The United States announced sanctions on Tuesday against entities in Iran and Russia, accusing them of attempting to meddle in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the targeted groups include a subsidiary of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a Russian organization linked to the military intelligence agency (GRU). These entities allegedly sought to exploit socio-political divisions and influence voter sentiment during the election.
"Iran and Russia have targeted our democratic institutions and sought to sow discord among Americans through coordinated disinformation campaigns," said Bradley Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "The United States remains vigilant in defending its democracy against foreign adversaries."
Requests for comment from Iran’s U.N. mission and Russia’s embassy in Washington went unanswered.
The Treasury revealed that the Iranian group, Cognitive Design Production Center, has been planning operations since 2023 to heighten tensions within the U.S. electorate. Meanwhile, Russia's Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE) is accused of spreading false information about election candidates, including the creation of manipulated videos and deepfakes targeting a 2024 vice-presidential candidate, though specific names were not disclosed.
Using generative AI tools, CGE allegedly produced disinformation disseminated via a network of over 100 fake news websites designed to mimic legitimate outlets. The GRU is accused of financing CGE and U.S.-based operatives to maintain this disinformation infrastructure.
The director of CGE was also sanctioned, and the Treasury emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in enabling these operations.
An annual U.S. threat assessment released in October highlighted increasing threats from Russia, Iran, and China attempting to interfere in U.S. elections, particularly through the use of advanced AI technologies to spread fake or divisive narratives.
The sanctions reflect ongoing concerns about the vulnerabilities of democratic processes to foreign influence and technological manipulation.