OFAC is designating a subordinate organization of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and a Moscow-based affiliate organization of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and its director pursuant to the U.S. election interference authority.
As affiliates of the IRGC and GRU, "these actors aimed to stoke socio-political tensions and influence the U.S. electorate during the 2024 U.S. election," according to a Treasury statement.
In the summer of 2024, the U.S. government revealed Iran’s efforts to interfere in the U.S. electoral process. These activities aimed to create discord and undermine democratic confidence through social engineering and compromising individuals linked to presidential campaigns.
On September 27, 2024, OFAC designated an Iranian national and member of the IRGC for infiltrating accounts of campaign officials and advisors. Five employees of the Iranian cybersecurity firm Emennet Pasargad, previously sanctioned for meddling in the 2020 U.S. election, were also designated.
The Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC), an IRGC subsidiary, conducted influence operations since 2023 to exacerbate U.S. socio-political tensions ahead of the 2024 elections. OFAC designated CDPC under Executive Order 13848 for acting on behalf of the IRGC.
The Russian government employs covert influence campaigns, cyber activities, and propaganda to undermine U.S. national security and democracy. It utilizes intelligence services, proxies, fake personas, and front organizations to disguise state involvement.
In 2024, the GRU-affiliated Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), led by Aleksandr Dugin and Valery Korovin, used artificial intelligence (AI) to create deepfakes and disinformation targeting the U.S. presidential election. With GRU funding and support, CGE built an AI server to generate content for a network of over 100 websites mimicking legitimate news outlets, distributing disinformation and concealing Russian origins. CGE also manipulated a video to spread false accusations about a vice-presidential candidate.
OFAC designated CGE, Korovin, and related entities under multiple executive orders and sanctions laws, including E.O. 13848, E.O. 14024, and the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, for engaging in foreign interference and acting on behalf of the GRU.
The December 31, 2024 designations follow prior OFAC actions regarding Russia’s global malign influence campaigns, including RT, RaHDit, RRN, and Doppelgänger influence operations; Kremlin-directed malign influence efforts; interference in U.S. elections; efforts to subvert democracy in Moldova; destabilization activities in Ukraine; and the operation of outlets controlled by Russian intelligence services.
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