U.S. Accuses Russian and Iranian Groups of Disinformation, Imposes Sanctions

The United States has imposed sanctions on two organizations linked to Iran and Russia for their efforts to target American voters with disinformation ahead of the 2024 election. Treasury officials made the announcement on Tuesday, accusing the groups of trying to create divisions in the U.S. before the November vote. Both countries have been accused of spreading fake news, videos, and social media posts to manipulate voters and weaken trust in the election process.

Treasury Department Statement

Bradley T. Smith, the acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury, stated, “The governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns.”

Russian Group Behind Deepfake Videos

The Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise is a Russian group accused of overseeing the creation, funding, and distribution of disinformation, including the use of deepfake videos created with artificial intelligence. The sanctions also target the group’s director, who allegedly worked closely with Russian military intelligence involved in cyberattacks and sabotage. Authorities claim the center used AI to quickly produce fake videos about U.S. candidates, set up fake news websites, and paid U.S. web companies to spread pro-Russian content.

Iranian Group Linked to Political Tensions

The Iranian group, Cognitive Design Production Center, is said to be a subsidiary of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Officials claim the center has been active since at least 2023 in stoking political tensions within the U.S. Iran is also accused of hacking into the accounts of top U.S. officials, including members of Donald Trump’s campaign, and attempting to incite protests over Israel’s war with Hamas.

Russia and Iran Deny Election Interference

In the months leading up to the election, U.S. intelligence agencies reported that Russia, Iran, and China sought to undermine confidence in U.S. democracy. U.S. officials allege that Russia aimed to support Trump, while Iran opposed his candidacy due to actions taken during his presidency, including withdrawing from the nuclear deal and ordering the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. Both Russian and Iranian officials have denied involvement in attempts to interfere with the 2024 election. A spokesperson for Russia’s embassy wrote, “Russia has not and does not interfere with the internal affairs of other countries,” while officials from Iran did not respond to requests for comment.