The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against entities in Iran and Russia for their alleged attempts to interfere in the 2024 U.S. election. These actions are taken under Executive Order 13848, which addresses foreign interference in U.S. elections.
According to OFAC, a subordinate organization of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a Moscow-based affiliate of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) have been designated for attempting to influence the U.S. electorate by stoking socio-political tensions.
"The Governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns," stated Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "The United States will remain vigilant against adversaries who would undermine our democracy."
In summer 2024, it was reported that Iran engaged in activities aimed at undermining confidence in U.S. democratic institutions through social engineering efforts targeting individuals with access to presidential campaigns. On September 27, 2024, OFAC designated an Iranian national linked to these activities along with five employees from Emennet Pasargad, previously known as Net Peygard Samavat Company.
The Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC), a subsidiary of IRGC, is accused of planning operations since at least 2023 to incite tensions among U.S. voters ahead of the elections.
Russia's involvement reportedly includes using covert influence campaigns and cyber activities to affect U.S. national security interests globally. The Kremlin allegedly employs proxy websites and fake personas to mask its involvement.
The Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), founded by Aleksandr Dugin, is implicated in creating deepfakes and disinformation about candidates in the 2024 general election using artificial intelligence tools. CGE personnel reportedly worked with GRU units on various operations targeting the election.
OFAC has sanctioned CGE and its director Valery Mikhaylovich Korovin under several executive orders for engaging in malign influence operations during the election period.
As a result of these designations, all property within U.S jurisdiction belonging to these entities is blocked, prohibiting transactions involving them without specific authorization from OFAC.
These sanctions underscore ongoing efforts by OFAC to counter foreign interference while emphasizing that sanctions aim not only at punishment but also at encouraging positive behavioral changes.
