Countering Influence: How Sanctions Address Iranian and Russian Interference in U.S. Elections

The United States is implementing sanctions today against the Cognitive Design Production Center (CPDC), an affiliate of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise and its head, Valery Mikhaylovich Korovin, associated with the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). These entities aimed to incite sociopolitical discord and weaken our electoral institutions during the 2024 U.S. general election.

The sanctions imposed today expand upon multiple prior actions taken by the U.S. government that have thwarted Iran’s efforts to erode confidence in our democratic frameworks and Russia’s worldwide nefarious influence operations and illegal cyber undertakings.

The United States remains vigilant in monitoring initiatives by harmful entities aiming to sway or disrupt the integrity of our elections. We are dedicated to ensuring accountability for state-sponsored figures who seek to diminish public faith in our democratic institutions.

The Department of the Treasury’s sanctions were enacted under Executive Order (E.O.) 13848, which addresses U.S. election interference, along with other regulatory frameworks. For further details regarding today’s measures, please refer to the Treasury’s press announcement.