The FBI has launched an investigation into apparent leaks of classified information involving a cyberwarfare program against Iran, a US official said Wednesday.

  FBI spokesman Paul Bresson had no comment on the reported investigation.

  Sen. Saxby Chambliss, ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he was informed that an FBI inquiry was under way.

  The senator from Georgia and other leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees issued a joint statement Tuesday deploring the apparent leaks.

  The White House pushed back against suggestions it could be leaking classified information for political purposes.

  "This administration takes all appropriate and necessary steps to prevent leaks of classified information or sensitive information that could risk ongoing counterterrorism or intelligence operations," spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday aboard Air Force One as the president traveled to campaign events on the West Coast.

  "Any suggestion that this administration has authorized intentional leaks of classified information for political gain is grossly irresponsible."

  Asked about the White House's response, Sen. John McCain told CNN International's "Amanpour," "I would expect nothing else from the White House. But the fact is that the portrayal of the president in these stories is nothing short of heroic."

  The ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee added, "Clearly, administration officials were involved."

  McCain, R-Arizona, said he has "great faith" in the FBI but that a matter as weighty as national security "probably deserves a special counsel."

  Feinstein told CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" that she didn't believe any of the information came from the top ranks of the White House.

  McCain and Chambliss cited other recent leaks as well, including information on the administration's efforts to expand its drone program and the president's involvement in "kill lists" against militants in Yemen and Pakistan.

  Also, the public airing of details surrounding a recently disrupted bomb plot in Yemen by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula angered intelligence and national security officials.

  美国某官员本周三称，美国联邦调查局（FBI）已针对白宫可能故意泄露美国对伊朗发动网络攻击等机密展开调查。

  白宫发言人保罗·布莱森对媒体报道的调查事件不予置评。

  参议院情报委员会资深共和党人萨克斯比·钱伯利斯说，他得到了FBI正在就此开展调查的消息。

  来自乔治亚州的参议员钱伯利斯和参众两院情报委员会的其他高官本周二发表了一份联合声明，谴责这起泄密事件。

  白宫对为了政治目的泄露机密的指责予以反驳。

  白宫发言人杰伊·卡尼本周三回应说：“本届政府采取了一切适当和必要的措施，来防止可能危及正在进行的反恐或情报行动的机密信息或敏感信息的泄露。”当时他正在空军一号飞机上，和奥巴马总统一同前往美国西海岸进行竞选宣传活动。

  他说：“任何暗示本届政府为了政治利益而授权泄露机密信息的说法都是非常不负责任的。”

  在被问到白宫的回应时，参议员乔治-麦凯恩告诉美国有线电视新闻网国际台访谈节目“阿曼普”，“我不期望白宫作出更多回应，但事实上在这些泄密事件中，他们正把奥巴马总统塑造成英雄形象。”

  这位参议院军事委员会的资深成员补充说：“很明显，白宫参与了此事。”

  亚利桑那州参议员麦凯恩说，他对FBI“很有信心”，但涉及到国家安全的重大事件“很可能需要一个特殊委员会”。

  参议员范士丹告诉CNN“沃尔夫·布利泽时事分析室”节目，她不相信白宫高层传来的任何消息。

  麦凯恩和钱伯利斯还提到了最近的其它泄密事件，包括白宫发展无人驾驶飞机计划的信息，以及奥巴马参与制定也门和巴基斯坦激进分子“刺杀名单”的信息。

  另外，有关基地组织阿拉伯半岛分支机构近日一起未遂爆炸案的机密信息遭到泄露，这也激怒了美国情报和安全官员。