DOJ Foiled Iranian Assassination Plot Against Trump
The three men also targeted an Iranian-American activist and two Jewish Americans.
The DOJ unsealed the complaint detailing charges and allegations against three Iranian agents for plotting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad, and two Jewish Americans.
Officials described Farhad Shakeri as an asset to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard (IRGC).
The others charged are Carlisle Rivera, 48, of Brooklyn, and Jonathan Loadholt, 36, of Staten Island.
They wanted to avenge Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Quds Force.
Trump’s administration killed Soleimani in a drone strike in 2020.
Shakeri, Rivera, and Loadholt face the following charges:
- Murder-for-hire
- Commit murder-for-hire
- Money laundering conspiracy
Shakeri faces additional charges:
- Conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization
- Providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization
- Conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Government of Iran
Shakeri remains at large. Officials believe he’s in Iran. He “immigrated to the United States as a child and was deported in or about 2008 after serving 14 years in prison for a robbery conviction.”
From at least in or about December 2023, up to and including at or about the time of filing of this Complaint, in Iran, the Southern District of New York, and elsewhere, and in an offense begun and committed out of the jurisdiction of any particular State or district of the United States, FARHAD SHAKER!, the defendant, and others known and unknown, at least one of whom is expected to be first brought to and arrested in the Southern District of New York, knowingly and willfully combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other to violate, and to cause a violation of, licenses, orders, regulations, and prohibitions issued under the IEEPA [International Emergency Economic Powers Act].
It was a part and an object of the conspiracy that FARHAD SHAKER, the defendant, and others known and unknown, would and did cause U.S. persons to engage in transactions and dealings in property and interests in property of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the GTSR [Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations], including the IRGC, without first obtaining the required approval of OFAC [Office of Foreign Assets Control]; and to evade the requirements of U.S. law with respect to transactions and dealings in property and interests in property of the IRGC, in violation of Executive Order 13224 and Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 594.201, 594.204, and 594.205.
The DOJ alleges Shakeri used criminal associates he met in prison “to supply the IRGC with operatives to conduct surveillance and assassinations of IRGC.”
Shakeri asked Loadholt and Rivera to watch Alinejad, who had previously been targeted by the regime and offered them $100,000.
Shakeri told officials he received an assignment to surveil two Jewish Americans in New York. An IRGC official offered him $500,000 “for the murder of either victim.”
In fact, Alinejad addressed the situation on X:
I am here at Berlin to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall and. Now I received a phone call from the FBI telling me that they arrested two other killers who were hired by the islamic republic by the same person, Farhad Shakeri, who was assigned to kill and assassinate President Trump. They arrested these two guy because they went in front of my house to kill me.
I was invited to go to Fairfield University. The FBI came to my house the same day and warned me not to go. They didn’t explain why, but they told me that there is a minute threat. So the university was aware of the threat as well. They were informed by the FBI, I think, and they canceled the event. The university, when you go to Fairfield University’s website, you will see that I was supposed to be there. But I couldn’t make it.
Now I found out why, and it’s shocking because the killers were planning to go at Fairfield University waiting for me, and I don’t know what was in their mind.
But I remember what happened to Salmon Rushti, and I know the nature of the Islamic Republic. This is the Islamic Republic nature to get rid of their opponents, to kill anyone who dare to challenge them to criticize this ideology.
So I don’t know. I’ve been given a second life. No, third life. The kidnapping plot was foiled by the FBI. The Azerbaijani guy got arrested in front of my house with a loaded gun, AK 47. And now two other killers got arrested by the FBI yesterday. Third attempt. So far.
I am very pleased and thankful to the law enforcement of the United States of America that they have charged 15 people. 15 people hired by the Islamic Republic to kill me, and six of them are behind bars in America.
That’s why I love my life and I love America, and I love Iranian women who are facing the same killers. The same murderers, but never give up. So whatever I do hurts them really bad that they want to kill me. That makes me more determined to give voice to Iranian women, Iranian men fighting shoulder to shoulder to bring the wall of dictatorship down. We will win this battle.
I am shocked. I just learned from the @FBI that two men were arrested yesterday in a new plot to kill me at Fairfield University, where I was scheduled to give a talk.
I also learned that the person assigned to assassinate @realDonaldTrump was also assigned to kill me on U.S.… pic.twitter.com/3dL8yzBpQl
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) November 8, 2024
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Comments
Maybe this all happened as depicted. But I have a terribly difficult time believing a single word coming out of the FBI/DOJ.
“Swollen Valor.”
Or more likely a too-little-too-late case of “Don’t tase me, bro.”
Did they also plan to kidnap Gretchen Witmer?
Yes!
But mainly because they needed a driver,
FBI trying to suck up to the new administration in hopes he will go easy on them…
If any of this is true (although color me skeptical as Titan28 suggests) Iran is playing with fire. Suppose it is successful or partially successful, how long does it think it will remain in existence and not become an radioactive ember?
That’s why they are feverishly boasting today about how they have a stockpile of brand new sophisticated missiles and nukes safely warehoused, and are “only trotting out the old ones to show Israel how even those can pierce their defenses,”
Let’s be *highly* skeptical, as Titan & Jack wisely suggest above, but should these allegations be proven I believe that the death penalty is warranted.
Not because the threat was against Trump, per se (I mean, who would want to off Biden? Seriously?) but as a citizen of a functioning republic, I expect there to be consequences when someone tries to topple my government, be it by assassination or by election fraud.
The sooner we return to treating traitors as we treated the Rosenbergs the better.
Sounds like a case of “Caedite eos — novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.”
Did the FBI also plan this crime?
That’s my estimation,…If Iran wanted Trump assassinated, why wait until campaign season,..they’ve had 4 years,..I truly believe that the FBI/CIA was in on this
ding ding ding.
Possibly because assassinating an out-of-office Trump would only cause Iran a headache for no actual gain. Once Trump decided to run again, Iran could have decided (like many liberals) that he must be “stopped,” both for the trouble he may cause Iran and the support he may give Israel should he be re-elected. They may have also reckoned a friendly Democrat administration might go much lightly on Iran for such a deed, having knocked a potentially formidable presidential candidate out of the race for them.
If this is true, I’m surprised they didn’t just let it happen.
DEI intern saw the Interoffice Memo envelope on a desk and put it in the cart, never realizing it was supposed to stay on the desk.