On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed details of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot aimed at assassinating Donald Trump, the Republican president-elect. The plot was allegedly orchestrated by an Iranian government asset, Farhad Shakeri, who is accused of working on behalf of Tehran to carry out surveillance and murder-for-hire schemes. The plot to kill Trump was reportedly planned just days before the 2024 election, and the Justice Department has filed charges against Shakeri, who remains at large in Iran.
The Alleged Assassination Plot
According to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Manhattan, Shakeri, an Afghan national, was allegedly instructed by a contact in Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to devise a plan to kill Trump in September 2024. Shakeri was reportedly told to prioritize the assassination and assemble a plan within seven days, which included surveillance of the president-elect. The Iranian official allegedly remarked, “We have already spent a lot of money” on the plot and emphasized that finances were not a concern.
Shakeri claimed that his contact also told him that if he could not finalize the plan within the week, it would be delayed until after the 2024 election, as the official believed that Trump would lose and it would be easier to carry out the killing then.
Shakeri’s Background and Alleged Network
Farhad Shakeri is a former convict who spent 14 years in U.S. prisons for robbery before being deported. According to the Justice Department, he maintained a network of criminal associates enlisted by Iran for various plots, including surveillance and targeted killings. Shakeri allegedly spoke to FBI agents in a series of recorded telephone interviews from Iran, where he disclosed details about the murder-for-hire operation. In exchange for his cooperation, Shakeri sought a reduced sentence for an associate incarcerated in the U.S.
Though some of Shakeri’s claims were found to be false, federal investigators confirmed that his statements regarding the assassination plot against Trump, as well as Iran’s financial commitment to such operations, were accurate.
Additional Plots and Targets
In addition to the alleged assassination plot against Trump, Shakeri told investigators about other assassination attempts he was involved in. These included plotting the murders of two Jewish-Americans in New York and Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka. Shakeri also reportedly worked with two men, Jonathan Loadholt and Carlisle Rivera, whom he allegedly recruited to follow and kill Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist who has long been a target of Iranian assassination plots.
Alinejad, speaking from Berlin, expressed shock upon hearing of the foiled plot against her. She thanked law enforcement for their protection but called on the U.S. government to take additional measures to ensure her safety and national security.
FBI and DOJ Responses
The Justice Department and FBI have been monitoring these activities as part of their ongoing efforts to counter Iranian threats to U.S. officials and dissidents. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that Iran continues to pose a significant national security threat, stating, “There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed this sentiment, calling the assassination plot a reflection of Iran’s continued brazen attempts to target U.S. citizens, including the president-elect, as well as other government leaders and critics of the Tehran regime.
Context of Tensions Between Iran and the U.S.
The alleged assassination plot comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The Trump administration was known for its hardline stance on Iran, including withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, reimposing sanctions, and ordering the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020. Iran has long vowed revenge for Soleimani’s killing, and intelligence officials suggest that Iran has been involved in a range of covert activities aimed at undermining U.S. interests, including hack-and-leak operations designed to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump Responds to Assassination Plot
In response to the assassination plot, a spokesman for Donald Trump, Steven Cheung, confirmed that the president-elect was aware of the threat. Cheung stated that nothing would deter Trump from his commitment to returning to the White House and continuing his efforts to restore peace around the world. Despite the gravity of the situation, Trump’s team is resolute in their focus on his political goals and national security.
The exposure of this assassination plot highlights the ongoing risks posed by foreign adversaries, particularly Iran, and underscores the need for continued vigilance in protecting U.S. leaders and citizens from external threats.
