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The United States has announced new sanctions targeting Iranian and Russian organizations accused of orchestrating disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining the 2024 US elections.
Some shit you should know before you read: In the lead-up to the 2024 election, officials from the FBI and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) warned that Russia, Iran, and China were actively working to interfere in US elections. Their efforts included spreading disinformation, stoking divisions among Americans, and undermining trust in electoral systems. US intelligence assessments revealed that Russia aimed to support Donald Trump while Iran preferred Vice President Kamala Harris.
What’s going on: The newly announced US sanctions target two entities, Iran’s Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC) and Russia’s Center for Geopolitical Expertise, as well as individuals linked to these organizations. The CDPC, a subsidiary of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was accused of conducting disinformation campaigns to incite political tensions in the US, with operations dating back to at least 2023. These efforts included encouraging domestic protests and attempting to exploit socio-political divisions. Iran also allegedly hacked accounts of prominent US figures and used propaganda to oppose former President Donald Trump, reflecting grievances over his administration’s actions, including reimposing sanctions and orchestrating the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Russia’s Center for Geopolitical Expertise, with support from the GRU (Russia’s military intelligence agency), focused on producing and disseminating disinformation to undermine confidence in the 2024 US election. The organization used artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos and fake news websites designed to mimic legitimate outlets, amplifying false narratives about American candidates.
This all comes as both Russia and Iran have denied allegations of interference in the 2024 US election. Russia’s Embassy in Washington issued a statement rejecting the claims, saying, “We respect the will of the American people,” and labeling the accusations baseless. Similarly, a spokesperson for Iran’s mission to the United Nations, Ali Karimi Magham, reiterated Tehran’s denial, stating that Iran has rejected such allegations “on multiple occasions,” calling them “devoid of any credibility and legitimacy,” “fundamentally unfounded,” and “wholly inadmissible.”
