Major cyber shock: Iran-linked hackers claim breach of FBI director Kash Patel’s inbox

Tehran: A group of Iran-linked hackers has claimed responsibility for breaching the personal inbox of FBI Director Kash Patel, publishing alleged emails, photographs, and a purported resume online, according to a report by Reuters.

“Iran-linked hackers have publicly claimed the breach of FBI Director Kash Patel's personal inbox, publishing photographs of the director and his purported resume to the internet,” Reuters reported, citing material released by the group.

The hacking group, identifying itself as Handala Hack Team, said on its website that Patel “will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims,” signalling what it described as a high-profile cyber intrusion.

However, a sample of the leaked material reviewed by Reuters appeared to contain a mix of personal and professional correspondence dating from 2010 to 2019.

A US Justice Department official also confirmed to Reuters that Patel’s emails were compromised but did not go into detail.

The cyber claim comes against the backdrop of intensifying tensions between Iran and the United States. Tehran has rejected a 15-point US ceasefire proposal that includes relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz, even as Washington has deployed additional troops to the region, raising the possibility of military action.

US President Donald Trump has warned that if Iran does not reopen the key shipping route by April 6, he could order strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure. He said talks to end the conflict were going “very well,” though Iran has maintained that it is not engaged in any negotiations.

On the ground, the conflict continues to escalate across the region. Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted missiles and drones targeting the capital, Riyadh.

Kuwait reported “material damage” at its Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait City and the under-construction Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, a project linked to China’s Belt and Road initiative, marking a rare instance of a Chinese-affiliated project being hit in the conflict.

Markets have also reacted sharply to the growing uncertainty. US stocks ope ned lower on Friday, marking a fifth consecutive week of losses , the longest such streak in nearly four years. The S&P 500 fell 0.4 per cent in early trade, while the Dow Jones dropped 0.6 per cent and the Nasdaq declined 0.6 per cent.

Asian markets mirrored the trend amid fading hopes of de-escalation. Meanwhile, oil prices surged, with Brent crude climbing to USD 107 per barrel in morning trade, up more than 45 per cent since the conflict began on February 28 following strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran.