The United States has imposed sanctions on two groups linked to Iranian and Russian efforts to target American voters with disinformation ahead of the 2024 election. Treasury officials announced the sanctions, accusing the organizations of seeking to stoke divisions among Americans through fake videos, news stories, and social media posts. The U.S. intelligence has accused both governments of spreading disinformation to manipulate voters and undermine trust in U.S. elections.
The Russian group, the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise, was targeted for overseeing the creation, financing, and dissemination of disinformation about American candidates. They created deepfake videos using artificial intelligence and worked closely with Russian military intelligence agents involved in cyberattacks against the West. The sanctions apply to the group and its director, who was involved in creating fake news websites and paying U.S. web companies to produce pro-Russian content.
The Iranian group, the Cognitive Design Production Center, is a subsidiary of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. The center has been working since at least 2023 to incite political tensions in the United States. U.S. intelligence agencies have attributed protests in the U.S. over Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza to the Iranian government, which has also been accused of hacking accounts of senior U.S. officials.
In the months leading up to the election, U.S. intelligence officials said Russia, Iran, and China sought to undermine confidence in U.S. democracy. Russia was alleged to support then-President Trump, while Iran opposed his candidacy. The U.S. had taken actions against Iran, including ending a nuclear deal, imposing sanctions, and ordering the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, prompting Iranian leaders to vow revenge. Both Russian and Iranian officials denied any interference in the U.S. election.
A spokesperson for Russia’s embassy in Washington stated that Russia does not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. Meanwhile, there was no immediate response from Iranian officials regarding the allegations of election interference. The sanctions imposed by the United States on the Russian and Iranian groups reflect growing concerns about foreign influence and disinformation campaigns targeting American voters. The efforts to address these threats demonstrate the importance of safeguarding the integrity of U.S. elections.
