US imposes sanctions on entities in Iran, Russia over election interference
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Russian and Iranian entities aimed to “stoke socio-political tensions" during the Nov 5 US election, said the US Treasury Department.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – The US on Dec 31 imposed sanctions on entities in Iran and Russia, accusing them of attempting to interfere in the US election in 2024.
The US Treasury Department in a statement said the entities – a subsidiary of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and an organisation affiliated with Russia’s military intelligence agency – aimed to “stoke socio-political tensions and influence the US electorate during the 2024 US election”.
The Cognitive Design Production Centre had planned influence operations since at least 2023, the Treasury said, while the Moscow-based Centre for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE) circulated disinformation about candidates in the election and directed and subsidised the creation of deepfakes.
The Treasury said CGE also manipulated a video to produce “baseless accusations concerning a 2024 vice-presidential candidate”. It did not specify which candidate was targeted.
Republican Donald Trump was elected president
“The governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” Treasury Acting Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley Smith said in the statement.
“The United States will remain vigilant against adversaries who would undermine our democracy.” REUTERS
