US imposes sanctions on Iranian and Russian entities over election interference

On Tuesday, December 31, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against individuals from Iran and Russia. The companies are involved in interference in the US elections, according to the press service of the US Treasury Department.

The sanctions list includes the Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC), which is affiliated with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to the United States, since at least 2023, the CDPC has been planning influence operations “designed to incite socio-political tensions” among the American electorate ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

In Russia, the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise, which is affiliated with Russian military intelligence, was subject to restrictions. It was founded by Eurasianism ideologue Alexandr Dugin.

According to the United States, the center’s employees cooperate with the GRU unit responsible for sabotage against the West. In particular, its director Valery Korovin was involved in attempts to interfere in the presidential election.

“The Governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith.

Elections in the United States

The US presidential election was held on November 5. The main candidates were Kamala Harris of the Democrats and Donald Trump of the Republicans, after Biden decided not to run for a second time, saying he would focus on completing his term in office.

For more information on the election results, read the material by RBC-Ukraine.