The United States has enacted sanctions against two entities associated with Iranian and Russian efforts aimed at spreading disinformation to affect American voters in the lead-up to the upcoming election.
Treasury officials revealed these sanctions on Tuesday, stating that both organizations were involved in attempts to create discord among the U.S. populace as the November election approaches.
U.S. intelligence agencies have accused both Iran and Russia of disseminating misleading information, which includes fabricated videos and news articles along with misleading social media content intended to sway voters and damage confidence in the electoral process.
Bradley T. Smith, acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury, expressed in a statement, “The governments of Iran and Russia have actively targeted our electoral processes and institutions, aiming to create divisions among the American populace through organized disinformation campaigns.”
The sanctions target a Russian organization known as the Center for Geopolitical Expertise in Moscow, which was implicated in the creation and funding of disinformation campaigns about American political candidates, including the production of deepfake videos generated using AI technology.
Moreover, the sanctions extend to the group’s leader, whom authorities claim collaborated closely with Russian military intelligence operatives who are also involved in cyberattacks and disruptive actions against Western entities.
The Center reportedly utilized AI technology to rapidly produce deceptive videos about candidates, established numerous fake news websites to appear credible, and even financially supported U.S. web services to publish pro-Russian narratives.
On the Iranian side, the Cognitive Design Production Center, affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard—designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization—has been accused of working to incite political strife within the U.S. since at least early 2023.
Intelligence officials have attributed attempts by the Iranian government to instigate protests in the U.S. regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Additionally, Iran has allegedly engaged in cyber intrusions targeting the accounts of various notable current and former U.S. officials, including senior figures from Donald Trump’s campaign.
As the election draws closer, U.S. intelligence asserts that Russia, Iran, and China are all trying to erode trust in American democracy. Analysts have also indicated that Russia has attempted to bolster Trump’s candidacy, as he has previously expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin, suggested reducing financial aid to Ukraine, and has consistently criticized the NATO alliance.
Conversely, Iranian officials reportedly aimed to diminish Trump’s prospects, particularly after his administration exited a nuclear agreement with Iran, reinstated sanctions, and executed General Qassem Soleimani, prompting vows of retaliation from Iranian authorities.
Both Russian and Iranian representatives have dismissed accusations that they are attempting to manipulate the 2024 election results. A Russian embassy spokesperson in Washington asserted, “Russia has not and does not interfere in the internal matters of other nations,” while inquiries sent to Iranian officials went unanswered on Tuesday.
