Breaking: U.S. Treasury Sanctions Russia and Iran for Interfering in 2024 Election
Update #23 | Sanctions stem from Executive Order 13848, the U.S. election interference authority.
If you haven’t read the original post,
I highly recommend reading it first ↓
Update #23
We have some breaking news today:
This is a developing story, so stay tuned for more details. I’ll edit this post as we learn more.
Biden Admin. Takes Action Against Russia and Iran Over Election Meddling
In a decisive move against foreign election interference, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned multiple organizations and individuals linked to Iran and Russia for their efforts to meddle in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
This announcement is significant: the U.S. government has now officially found that a subsidiary of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a Moscow-based affiliate of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) were actively engaged in influence operations designed to exacerbate political divisions and undermine the legitimacy of U.S. elections. The move is made under Executive Order 13848, which specifically targets foreign interference in U.S. elections. (I wrote about E.O. 13838 previously; read it here.)
“The Governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith in a press statement. “The United States will remain vigilant against adversaries who would undermine our democracy.”
Iranian interference has been particularly notable through the IRGC-affiliated Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC), which has been accused of planning influence operations since at least 2023. The IRGC has long been a target of U.S. sanctions for its malign activities, including attempts to influence U.S. elections.
Meanwhile, the Russian Federation, which has a long, sordid history of cyber operations and covert influence campaigns, expanded its interference efforts by using artificial intelligence to create and distribute disinformation. Moscow’s Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE)—founded by Aleksandr Dugin and linked to the GRU—has used generative AI to craft false narratives and deepfake videos aimed at discrediting U.S. political candidates and stoking division.
As a result of today’s sanctions, all property and interests of the designated entities are blocked within the U.S., and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. These measures are some of the first measures the U.S. government has taken to uphold its commitment to defending its electoral integrity from foreign interference.
While these sanctions serve as a warning to any actors considering interference in future U.S. elections, the timing may also signify that the Biden Administration is set to take additional actions to protect American democracy against those whose illegal actions helped Trump secure “victory.”
Who is Aleksandr Dugin?
Sometimes called “Putin’s Brain,” Dugin is the influential idealogue behind Russia’s aggressive modern geopolitical stance. A philosopher, political theorist, and staunch advocate for a revived Russian Empire, Dugin’s vision for Russia extends far beyond its current borders, seeking to reshape global power dynamics and restore Russia’s dominance. His influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin has been significant in shaping the nationalistic and expansionist rhetoric that defines Russia's foreign policy today.
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Dugin’s ideology is rooted in his concept of Eurasianism, a belief that Russia is destined to be the central power in a new Eurasian bloc, aligning itself with countries in the East and resisting Western influence. He views Russia’s historical role as that of a guardian of traditional values against the modern, liberal, and secular West. His ideas about geopolitics are heavily influenced by a mix of Russian Orthodox Christianity, anti-liberalism, and the philosophy of Carl Schmitt, a 20th-century German thinker known for his ideas on state sovereignty and the importance of strong authoritarian leadership. For Dugin, the West represents moral and cultural decay, and he believes that Russia must assert its power in opposition to Western hegemony.
Dugin’s writings have inspired a significant portion of the Russian far-right, and his influence extends beyond just academic circles. He has been an advocate for Russian military expansion, supporting the annexation of Crimea and justifying Russia’s involvement in Ukraine, seeing these actions as steps toward the broader Eurasian vision. His views have often been reflected in Russia's actions on the world stage, particularly in its increasingly hostile stance towards NATO and the European Union.
While Dugin’s direct influence on Putin’s policies is a matter of debate, his ideas resonate with a significant segment of the Russian political elite. Beyond his direct role in shaping Russian geopolitics, Dugin's broader ideological impact is seen in his efforts to forge alliances with other far-right and nationalist movements across Europe. His anti-globalist, anti-American rhetoric and vision of a world in which countries assert their sovereignty against international institutions like the UN and the EU has earned him a following among Western extremists.
The new sanctions against Dugin and his Center for Geopolitical Excellence indicate that he may have had a more direct impact on the election than we previously knew. That aligns with his tweet from just ten days before the election:
More soon.
If we don’t take action to defend democracy, we don’t deserve to keep it.
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