US sanctions Russian and Iranian entities involved in disinformation campaigns

2025-01-01 19:20:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United States imposed sanctions on two entities linked to efforts by Iran and Russia to spread disinformation to American voters ahead of last November's presidential election.

Treasury Department officials announced the decision Tuesday as they said the two entities spread false information aimed at stoking political tensions and smearing presidential candidates ahead of the Nov. 5 election process.

The US Treasury Department announced in a statement that an organization linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and an organization linked to Russia's military intelligence agency aimed to "stir socio-political tensions and influence the US electorate during the 2024 US election". .

"The governments of Iran and Russia targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through deliberate disinformation campaigns," said Treasury's Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Bradley Smith.

According to authorities, the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE) spread disinformation about presidential candidates and financed and orchestrated the creation of deepfakes artificially manipulated photos and videos.

In addition to the group, sanctions were also imposed on its director, who authorities say had worked closely with Russia's military intelligence agency and had overseen cyber attacks and acts of sabotage against the West.

According to US officials, the Iranian group, 'Cognitive Design Production Center' is a branch of Iran's Paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which is designated by the United States as a terrorist organization.

According to the Treasury Department, the group planned influence-peddling operations at least as early as 2023.

US intelligence agencies have accused Iran's government of trying to incite protests in the United States over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

Iran has also been accused of carrying out cyberattacks on the email addresses of some of the highest-ranking current and former United States officials, including senior officials of Mr. Donald Trump's election campaign team.

In the months leading up to the November election, US intelligence officials said Russia, Iran and China had aimed to undermine confidence in American democracy.

They concluded that Russia appeared intent on supporting Mr Trump's victory. Iran, on the other hand, appeared to oppose Mr. Trump's candidacy, according to officials.

During his first term as president, Mr. Trump ended the Iran nuclear deal, reimposed sanctions on Tehran and ordered the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, an act that prompted Iranian leaders to vow retaliation.

Russian and Iranian officials have rejected accusations that they tried to influence the outcome of the 2024 election.

"Russia has not interfered and will not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries," a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Washington said in a response to the Associated Press news agency.

Officials from Iran did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment from The Associated Press./VOA