US imposes sanctions on Iran and Russia over 'election interference'

The US has accused Iran and Russia of attempting to interfere in the 2024 US elections. The US Department of the Treasury has added a subsidiary of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and an organization linked to Russia's military intelligence agency (GRU) to its sanctions list.

The Department imposed sanctions on the "Cognitive Design Production Center" affiliated with the IRGC, as well as the Moscow-based "Center for Geopolitical Expertise" linked to the GRU and the center's head, Valery Korovin. The Department alleged that these organizations aimed to "fuel socio-political tensions and influence US voters during the 2024 US elections."

Bradley Smith, the US Treasury's Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated, "The Iranian and Russian governments have targeted our electoral processes and institutions, and have sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns. The United States will remain vigilant against adversaries who seek to undermine our democracy."