US sanctions individuals from Russia and Iran involved in election interference

The US Department of the Treasury on 31 December announced sanctions against individuals from Iran and Russia for involvement in meddling in US elections.

The sanctions target the Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC), a subsidiary organisation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The CDPC is alleged to have planned influence operations since at least 2023, aiming to incite socio-political tensions within the US electorate ahead of the 2024 elections.

In Russia, sanctions were imposed on the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise, linked to Russian military intelligence (GRU) and founded by Eurasianist ideologue Aleksandr Dugin. The centre’s director, Valeriy Korovin, was reportedly involved in attempts to interfere in US presidential elections.

The centre is accused of spreading fake AI-generated videos and manipulative content on social media, including materials discrediting Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz.

"The governments of Iran and Russia targeted our electoral processes and institutions, attempting to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns," Bradley Smith, Acting Deputy Treasury Secretary said.

In summer 2024, US intelligence warned of foreign adversaries' plans to influence the November 2024 presidential elections, adapting their operations to domestic political events. 

In September, the US sanctioned the leadership of the Russian propaganda channel RT.