U.S. President Disputes Initial Suspicions as Federal Authorities Continue Probe Into Water System Breach 
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he does not believe Iran was responsible for the recent cyberattack that targeted multiple water systems in Minnesota, contradicting early suspicions raised by investigators and cybersecurity officials.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump dismissed claims that Tehran was behind the incident, instead blaming what he described as failures by state officials in Minnesota.
Trump Rejects Iran Attribution
Addressing reporters, Trump said:
"We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack, and they blame it on Iran. I don't think so."
He went on to criticise Minnesota's handling of the incident, saying:
"I think I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent."
The president specifically criticised Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, arguing that local authorities had failed to adequately protect critical infrastructure.
Investigation Still Ongoing
Trump's remarks come as federal and state investigators continue examining the cyberattack, which affected more than 30 municipal water systems across Minnesota.
Authorities said the incident temporarily disrupted automated control systems at several facilities, forcing some operators to switch to manual operations while cybersecurity specialists assessed the damage.
Officials have stressed that there was no confirmed contamination of drinking water, although some communities briefly asked residents to conserve water as systems were restored.
Officials Previously Pointed to Possible Iranian Links
Before Trump's comments, U.S. officials investigating the attack had indicated that Iranian-affiliated hackers were among the leading suspects, citing similarities to previous cyber campaigns targeting water and wastewater infrastructure.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI have warned in recent months that water utilities have become increasingly attractive targets for foreign cyber actors because many systems rely on aging technology and limited cybersecurity protections.
However, investigators have not publicly announced a definitive attribution, and the inquiry remains active.
Growing Concern Over Critical Infrastructure
The Minnesota incident has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure across the United States.
Cybersecurity experts say water treatment facilities, electricity networks and transportation systems continue to face increasing threats from state-sponsored hackers and criminal cyber groups seeking to disrupt essential public services.
Federal agencies have urged utilities nationwide to strengthen cybersecurity measures, disconnect vulnerable industrial control systems from public internet access where possible, and improve monitoring for suspicious activity.
Investigation Continues
Authorities have not yet announced who was ultimately responsible for the cyberattack.
As investigators continue analysing digital evidence, officials say they remain focused on determining the attackers' identity, assessing the full extent of the intrusion and preventing similar attacks against critical infrastructure in the future.