The Justice Department has unsealed a criminal complaint revealing an alleged Iranian assassination attempt against President-elect Donald Trump, coordinated by Farhad Shakeri.
The Hill reported that the unsettling disclosure emerged this Friday when the Justice Department reported a disturbing scheme orchestrated by Iran, aimed at the life of President-elect Donald Trump.
According to federal officials, Shakeri, influenced directly by Iranian officials, planned to execute the assassination during Trump’s active fall campaign.
Farhad Shakeri, a 51-year-old with direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was charged with murder-for-hire following the unsealing of the complaint against him. This charge highlights the severity of the intent behind the plot.
In light of this revelation, the US authorities have deepened their investigation into Shakeri's past activities, revealing previous plans to target U.S. citizens.
In September, an Iranian official reportedly directed Shakeri to prioritize Trump's assassination over other plots, which included potential attacks on other U.S. and Israeli nationals.
This directive was made with the assurance that funding would be ample for the execution of the assassination, highlighting the critical level of commitment from those orchestrating the plan.
Shakeri's involvement with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps added a grave layer to the already critical threat. His connections allowed him operational access and strategic planning capabilities that posed a significant threat to not only Trump but also potential targets within the U.S. and Israeli communities.
The criminal complaint elaborates that before shifting focus towards Trump, Shakeri was tasked with surveilling an Iranian-American journalist and two Jewish Americans residing in New York City. These plans paint a sprawling picture of the threats orchestrated by Shakeri and the Iranian intelligence which now appear to utilize organized crime groups for their operations.
Earlier incidents of violence against Trump during his presidential campaign are chronicled, including two assassination attempts. These occurred in July at a rally in Butler, PA, where Trump was shot in the ear, and near his West Palm Beach, FL, golf course.
Although these attacks were deemed isolated with no evidence of a larger conspiracy, they underscore the persistent threats Trump encountered, influenced by known intentions from Iran against him.
Further exacerbating the threat landscape, Shakeri was also exploring options to attack Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka if plans to assassinate Trump either failed or were postponed past the election period. This indicates a broader targeting strategy that could destabilize not just national but international security dynamics.
The Justice Department had previously charged individuals in October tied to a plot to eliminate an Iranian-American journalist, revealing a pattern of targeted attempts against dissidents and critics of the Tehran regime.
Shakeri, alongside accomplices Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, were implicated. However, it is noted that Rivera and Loadholt were involved solely with the journalist plot and not the assassination attempt on Trump.
Currently, Shakeri is believed to be in Iran and remains at large, complicating international law enforcement efforts to capture and bring him to trial.
FBI Director Christopher Wray responded to these indictments stating, “The charges announced today expose Iran’s continued brazen attempts to target U.S. citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders, and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland has expressed profound concerns over these developments, emphasizing the gravity of the threat posed by Iran to U.S. national security. He affirmed the commitment of the United States to countering such threats decisively.
This sprawling plot illustrates not only the global reach of Iranian intelligence operations but also the complex and dark intersections of international politics and national security. As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, and U.S. law enforcement remains on high alert.
The attempts on Trump's life appear increasingly sophisticated, signaling persistent vulnerabilities and challenges for U.S. intelligence and security frameworks.