The US government has indicted Farhad Shakeri, an Iranian man accused of being involved in a plot to kill former President Donald Trump, reportedly at the direction of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Shakeri is believed to be in Iran and has not been arrested, with two additional suspects also charged.
US Indicts Iranian Man in Alleged Plot to Assassinate Trump
US Indicts Iranian Man in Alleged Plot to Assassinate Trump
A DOJ indictment reveals charges against an Iranian individual allegedly directed by Tehran to plan the assassination of Donald Trump before the 2016 election.
The US Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment against Farhad Shakeri, a 51-year-old Iranian man, in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Donald Trump prior to his election as president. Prosecutors claim that in September, Shakeri was tasked by an Iranian Revolutionary Guard official to devise a plan to surveil and execute Trump, highlighting the serious implications of state-directed terrorism.
While the indictment was made public on Friday, the Justice Department noted that Shakeri has not been apprehended and is believed to remain in Iran. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Shakeri was an asset of the Iranian regime, charged with orchestrating a network aimed at advancing Iran's assassination agendas against various targets, including Trump.
According to the court filings, Shakeri admitted that he was unable to finalize the assassination plan within the timeline set by the Revolutionary Guard, leading officials to consider delaying the assassination until after the election. They assessed that Trump was likely to lose, indicating a strategic shift in their plot.
The indictment also implicated two additional individuals, Carlisle Rivera, 49, from Brooklyn, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, from Staten Island, who were allegedly enlisted for a separate plot to kill an American journalist critical of the Iranian regime. The ongoing investigation raises questions about international law enforcement efforts and the potential for covert operations between state actors.
This case underscores the continuing tensions between the United States and Iran, particularly in the context of political assassinations and international security. As the details unfold, the implications for US-Iran relations and efforts to counter such threats will be closely monitored by global observers.
