US Officials Suspect Iran in Minnesota Water System Cyberattack
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US Officials Suspect Iran in Minnesota Water System Cyberattack
- Preliminary assessments by US investigators indicate that Iranian hackers are likely responsible for cyberattacks on over 30 municipal water systems in Minnesota this week.
- The attacks, which occurred on Sunday and Monday, temporarily disrupted automated controls in several cities, including Braham, Plymouth, and South St. Paul.
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US officials believe Iranian-affiliated hackers are likely behind recent cyberattacks that targeted dozens of municipal water systems across Minnesota. The attacks, which took place on Sunday and Monday, July 26 and 27, disrupted automated controls and online capabilities in more than 30 communities. While the assessment is preliminary and could change, investigators noted that the attack patterns are consistent with those of “CyberAv3ngers,” a group the US government links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber-Electronic Command.
The cyberattacks primarily targeted wells and water treatment plants, focusing on automated systems. In Braham, a small city, the water system was briefly shut down on Monday morning for about two hours before service was restored. Other affected cities included Plymouth, South St. Paul, and Maple Plain, where local officials reported issues with automated controls and communications. Plymouth’s IT division disconnected cellular-connected equipment at water towers and wastewater stations as a precaution, switching to manual procedures. Maple Plain declared a local state of emergency to manage the incident.
Crucially, officials have stated that there is no indication that any water supply was rendered unsafe to drink, and water quality and public safety were unaffected in all targeted cities.
The incidents follow a July 22, 2026, advisory from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), warning of Iranian-affiliated organizations targeting online control systems for US critical infrastructure, including water and wastewater systems. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FBI, CISA, and National Security Agency (NSA) had also issued a joint advisory on April 7, 2026, highlighting ongoing Iranian-affiliated cybersecurity threats to the water sector. Tensions between the US and Iran have been high, with officials noting the attacks come amidst an escalation in retaliatory moves.