The U.S. Justice Department on Friday charged a man, Farhad Shakeri, with planning an assassination plot against Donald Trump, allegedly ordered by an Iranian government official before the election.
Shakeri, an Iranian asset with a criminal background, told investigators that a contact in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard directed him in September to prepare a plan to surveil and kill Trump within seven days. The official reportedly said, “money’s not an issue,” adding that if the plan couldn’t be completed in time, it would be postponed until after the election, assuming Trump would lose.
Shakeri remains at large in Iran. Two others were arrested for attempting to kill Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad, who has faced multiple Iranian-backed assassination attempts. Alinejad expressed shock, stating, “I came to America to practice my First Amendment right… I want to fight against tyranny.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that Iran is a significant national security threat, with FBI Director Christopher Wray noting Iran’s continued efforts to target U.S. citizens, including Trump. Iranian operatives also interfered in the presidential election by hacking Trump campaign emails.
Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, stated that Trump is aware of the plot and is undeterred in his mission to “restore peace around the world.”
