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The U.S. Justice Department has charged an Iranian operative, Farhad Shakeri, for allegedly plotting to assassinate former President Donald Trump on orders from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to federal authorities, Shakeri, an Afghan national residing in Tehran, was instructed by IRGC officials to devise a plan targeting Trump within seven days. He allegedly discussed options for carrying out the plot with undercover law enforcement while also detailing his connections to the IRGC.
Shakeri was reportedly tasked with previous assignments, including plotting attacks on Israeli and U.S. citizens, and collaborating with criminal associates he met while living in the U.S. Court records reveal that his network helped conduct surveillance on several individuals, including Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad, a known target of Iranian retaliation for her activism. Shakeri's network allegedly stalked her at events and around her home in New York, discussing plans to harm her and requesting $100,000 from Iranian officials to execute the plot.
Two U.S.-based associates, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, were also charged for their roles in surveilling Alinejad and appeared in court Thursday. In addition to these plots, Shakeri is accused of planning a mass attack on Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka and targeting Jewish businesspeople in New York City.
Iran has denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and accusing the U.S. of orchestrating a "malicious conspiracy" to strain diplomatic ties. U.S. officials believe that Iran may be seeking revenge for the 2020 drone strike that killed top IRGC General Qasem Soleimani, an operation ordered by Trump.
Source: CNN
