US Charges for Iran-Linked Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump As Revenge For Killing Qassem Soleimani
Three individuals, Farhad Shakeri, Carlisle Rivera, and Jonathan Loadholt, have been charged with murder-for-hire and related crimes in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump and other targets.
Shakeri, believed to be residing in Iran, is an asset of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organisation. He was tasked by Iranian officials to direct a network of associates to carry out assassinations, including Trump, and other U.S. and Israeli citizens.
The plot was uncovered after Shakeri, Rivera, and Loadholt were caught surveilling a US citizen of Iranian origin, an outspoken critic of the Iranian regime, in New York. The three men shared messages and photographs related to their scheme, with Shakeri instructing Rivera and Loadholt to locate and kill the target.
According to the Justice Department, Shakeri informed law enforcement that he was tasked with providing a plan to kill Trump. He was also offered $500,000 by an IRGC official for the murder of two Jewish American citizens residing in New York City. Additionally, Shakeri was instructed to target Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.
The IRGC has publicly stated its desire to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC-QF, killed by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that Iran poses a significant threat to U.S. national security, and the Justice Department will continue to pursue those who harm American safety and security.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Rivera and Loadholt have been arrested, while Shakeri remains at large. If convicted, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison for murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and up to 20 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that the charges demonstrate the ongoing threat posed by the Government of Iran and its agents, and reaffirmed the commitment to holding accountable those who target U.S. citizens and national security interests. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with information to come forward.