The United States has imposed sanctions on Russia and Iran due to allegations of interference in elections.

 The US claims that affiliates of the Iranian and Russian governments attempted to create division during the 2024 elections.

The United States government has unveiled a new round of sanctions aimed at both Russia and Iran, citing ongoing efforts by these countries to interfere in the upcoming 2024 elections. In a formal statement released on Tuesday, the US Department of the Treasury highlighted the involvement of a specific affiliate linked to Russia’s military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, as well as a subsidiary associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from Iran. These organizations are accused of actively working to create and exacerbate domestic tensions within the United States.

Bradley Smith, the acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury, emphasized the seriousness of the threat posed by these nations. He stated, "The Governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns." This declaration underscores the US commitment to addressing any adversarial actions aimed at undermining the democratic process.

While the political landscape is ever-evolving, recent history reveals that President-elect Donald Trump emerged victorious in the November presidential election. His political party, the Republicans, not only won the presidency but also secured majority control in both chambers of the US Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Treasury Department's statement elaborates further on the specific allegations, indicating that the Moscow-based Centre for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE) allegedly provided financial support for the creation of misleading images and played a role in disseminating "baseless accusations" concerning a candidate for the 2024 vice presidency. The statement, however, does not disclose additional details regarding these accusations or the identities of the candidates involved.

The issue of election interference attributed to countries such as Russia has been a contentious topic in American politics for several years, sparking intense debates regarding the actual influence these foreign entities have and whether it has been exaggerated by various parties.

As for the response from Russian and Iranian officials, they have not yet issued a statement about the claims made on Tuesday. However, in the past, representatives from both countries have consistently denied similar accusations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the sanctions during a news release, asserting they are part of a broader strategy. "Today’s sanctions build on numerous previous US government actions that have disrupted Iran’s attempts to undermine confidence in our democratic institutions and Russia’s global malign influence campaigns and illicit cyber activities," he noted.

The sanctions specifically target the Centre for Geopolitical Expertise and its director, Valery Mikhaylovich Korovin, alongside the Cognitive Design Production Centre (CPDC), which is identified as an affiliate of the IRGC. This move is indicative of the US's ongoing efforts to combat what it perceives as hostile foreign interference in its democratic processes.