US Treasury Targets Iranian, Russian Groups Over Election Interference

The United States has imposed sanctions on two organizations accused of spreading disinformation to influence American voters ahead of the November elections – one based in Moscow and another linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Orda reports, citing the Associated Press.

According to Treasury officials, Moscow's Center for Geopolitical Expertise employed sophisticated AI technology to create and distribute deepfake videos through social media and deceptive news websites designed to mimic legitimate news sources.

The sanctions target both the organization and its director, who allegedly worked closely with Russian military intelligence.

The second group, Iran's Cognitive Design Production Center, operates as an arm of the Revolutionary Guard – which the US has previously designated as a terrorist organization.

Intelligence officials say the center has been actively working to spark political tensions in the United States since 2023.

US officials report that Iran's strategy focused on undermining Trump's credibility by highlighting controversial decisions, including his withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Iranian group is also accused of attempting to provoke US protests over Israel's war in Gaza and hacking the accounts of several high-ranking American officials, including members of Trump's campaign team.

Intelligence agencies have identified both countries as sources of election-related disinformation, including manipulated videos, fabricated news stories, and misleading social media content designed to shake public confidence in US electoral processes.

Original Author: Rustam Muratov