The U.S. imposed sanctions on Russian and Iranian groups accused of spreading disinformation targeting American voters ahead of this year’s election. Treasury officials announced the sanctions Tuesday, alleging that the organizations sought to stoke divisions among Americans before November’s vote.
The Russian group, the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise, allegedly used artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos about U.S. candidates and fabricated news websites. Its director, linked to Russian military intelligence, was also sanctioned.
The Iranian Cognitive Design Production Center, tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, was accused of inciting political tensions in the U.S. since 2023 and opposing Trump after his administration withdrew from the nuclear deal.
Both governments denied involvement. U.S. intelligence agencies also identified broader efforts by Russia, Iran, and China to undermine confidence in U.S. democracy.
