In a significant escalation of tensions, US prosecutors announced charges on Friday concerning an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, highlighting the ongoing hostilities between Washington and Tehran. The Justice Department disclosed that the plot was reportedly orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a response to the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, the prominent Iranian general who was eliminated by a US strike ordered by then-President Trump.
The assassination scheme was allegedly led by Farhad Shakeri, a 51-year-old operative believed to be living in Iran. Prosecutors claim that Shakeri, acting on behalf of the IRGC, was “tasked” on October 7 with devising a plan to eliminate Trump, following his recent election victory over Kamala Harris. The Justice Department further revealed that Shakeri utilized his criminal connections within the US to rally associates for potential IRGC-targeted assassinations.
Two other individuals involved in the plot, Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, were charged in a related case concerning plans to assassinate a high-profile Iranian-American dissident journalist in New York. Both men are currently in US custody and appeared in court on Thursday. While the Justice Department did not disclose the identity of the targeted dissident, the charges follow a recent case involving a Revolutionary Guards general accused in a similar plot against journalist Masih Alinejad, a vocal critic of Iran’s regime.
FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned the actions as “brazen attempts to target US citizens,” asserting that the Justice Department and federal agencies are fully dedicated to neutralizing foreign threats to American leaders and residents. He stressed that this incident underscores Iran’s ongoing efforts to retaliate against perceived adversaries worldwide.
The Justice Department’s statement also detailed Shakeri’s previous criminal history and alleged collaboration with IRGC operatives.
