The FBI recently announced it has foiled an alleged plot by Iran’s secret service to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump just weeks before the U.S. presidential election. According to information from the CNN, the plot reportedly involved three individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who were allegedly participating in a “murder-for-hire” scheme. This plot is believed to have been an act of retaliation for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed senior Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.
One of the suspects, 51-year-old Farhad Shakeri, has reportedly escaped to Tehran. The FBI stated that Shakeri, identified as an “asset” of the IRGC, acknowledged in recorded conversations that he had been instructed to delay the assassination attempt in case Trump lost the election. Shakeri also suggested that the plot would be more feasible if Trump were out of office and no longer had presidential-level security protection…CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
Additional information from the Anadolu Agency reveals that Shakeri, along with American associates Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathan Loadholt, 36, was allegedly involved in a broader plan targeting other individuals. Reports indicate that they were tasked with killing an Iranian-American activist and two Jewish businessmen in the U.S., with a $500,000 bounty offered for their assassination. According to Shakeri, Iran had allocated substantial funds to ensure the assassination plot against Trump was executed.
Court documents reveal that Shakeri recruited Rivera and Loadholt while serving time in a U.S. prison, where both were also incarcerated for violent offenses. These two men, who have since been detained by authorities, now face charges related to the alleged murder-for-hire scheme. Shakeri, meanwhile, is believed to be in Iran, out of reach of U.S. law enforcement.
In an official statement, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted the seriousness of the threat posed by Iran’s government to U.S. national security, underscoring Shakeri’s role in coordinating IRGC-linked operations intended to mobilize criminal networks for Iran’s objectives in the U.S.
FBI Special Agent Matthew Chrusz provided further details, explaining that Shakeri’s IRGC handlers had pressed him to accelerate the assassination plan despite the financial costs. Chrusz noted that since Soleimani’s death, Iran has reportedly directed considerable resources toward plans to target Trump, signaling the IRGC’s commitment to avenging the killing of their commander in Baghdad.
Since Soleimani’s death, Trump has increased security at his public appearances, acknowledging ongoing threats from Iran. In recent statements, he has warned that he may consider strong military measures against Iran if re-elected, underscoring his stance on protecting U.S. interests from external threats. The FBI also revealed that Shakeri’s handlers in the IRGC had encouraged him to target other U.S. and Israeli citizens within American borders, stressed the broader threat posed by Iranian operatives...CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
