The US Treasury Department recently announced sanctions on seven individuals as part of a broader response to Iranian attempts to influence the 2024 and 2020 US presidential elections. The department cited Iranian state-sponsored actors for engaging in various malicious cyber activities, including hack-and-leak operations and spear-phishing, aimed at undermining confidence in US election processes and institutions.
These sanctions were coordinated with a separate action by the Department of Justice targeting Iranian election interference actors. One of the individuals sanctioned by the Treasury Department is Masoud Jalili, a member of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Jalili and other IRGC members allegedly compromised several accounts of officials and advisors to a 2024 presidential campaign. They then leaked stolen data to the media and other parties to influence the 2024 US presidential election, using technical infrastructure associated with Jalili.
The actions taken by the US government underscore the ongoing threat posed by foreign actors seeking to interfere in American elections. By imposing sanctions on these individuals, the Treasury Department aims to deter future attempts to undermine the integrity of the US electoral process.
