US charges Iranian man in plot to kill Donald Trum...

US charges Iranian man in plot to kill Donald Trump

Zim Now Writer

The U.S. Justice Department has revealed a plot linked to Iranian operatives to assassinate former President Donald Trump, who recently won the 2024 presidential election.

The alleged plan involved Farhad Shakeri, an Iranian government associate, who claims he was instructed by a contact within Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to surveil and prepare to kill Trump ahead of this week's election.

Shakeri, who remains in Iran, has a criminal background in the U.S., including time served for robbery. According to court documents, he told FBI investigators that his Iranian contact emphasised urgency, instructing him to develop a plan within a week, reportedly saying that "money’s not an issue." If he couldn’t meet this deadline, the plan would be paused, assuming Trump would lose, making him a "easier" target.

Shakeri also allegedly attempted to orchestrate other attacks against prominent U.S.-based Iranian dissident journalist Masih Alinejad, two Jewish-American individuals in New York, and Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka. His collaboration with U.S. investigators included recorded conversations where he disclosed these plans, although some information he provided was later found to be inaccurate.

Alinejad, the journalist repeatedly targeted by Iranian plots, expressed shock and concern for her safety but emphasised her commitment to free speech and opposition to the Iranian regime.

The two men arrested in connection to the plot against Alinejad, Jonathan Loadholt and Carlisle Rivera, have not publicly commented, and Iran’s U.N. Mission has remained silent on the allegations.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted the serious threat Iran’s activities pose to U.S. security. This plot follows a pattern of Iranian-backed efforts to intimidate or harm American figures, including previous attempts to target U.S. officials.

The Trump campaign, aware of the assassination threat, stated that Trump remains undeterred in his commitment to "restoring peace around the world."

The Justice Department emphasised that this case illustrates Iran’s "brazen attempts" to target dissidents and high-profile Americans, underscoring ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, partly sparked by Trump’s prior policies, including the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.