Russia and Iran may try to provoke violent post-election protests in U.S.

Associated Press reported the information. 

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence published a memorandum on October 22 stating that Iran and Russia could support violent protests either by secretly organizing events on their own or by encouraging participation in those planned by domestic groups. 

The goal would be to increase divisions, cast doubt on the election results, and complicate the transfer of presidential power in the United States.

According to a declassified national intelligence memo, in January, Russian military intelligence tried to recruit an American to organize protests in the United States. The American was probably unaware of this and did not know that he was in contact with Russian agents.

The risk that one of the United States' adversaries could provoke political violence after this year's elections is higher, intelligence officials say, because officials in both countries now have a better understanding of the complex process the United States uses to validate voting results.

Officials say Russia and Iran, as well as China, want to undermine American unity by spreading false claims about the election, voting, and hot-button issues such as immigration, the economy, or the federal response to the recent hurricanes.

In addition, according to an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Russia is likely to try to provoke protests in the United States regardless of who wins the White House. However, if Kamala Harris wins, Russia's response is expected to be more aggressive.

• U.S. intelligence officials have also recently said that “foreign agents of influence” are likely to sow doubt about the outcome of the presidential election.