Iranian Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump Unveiled by Justice Department
The Justice Department disclosed on Friday an alleged Iranian scheme to assassinate Donald Trump, presenting charges against an individual who claimed he was instructed to eliminate the president-elect by an official within the Iranian government. The disturbing revelation surfaces just days before Trump is set to assume office, highlighting mounting threats against U.S. leaders from foreign adversaries.
Plot Uncovered Through Interview with Iranian Government Operative
Authorities became aware of the assassination plan during an interview with Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national with ties to the Iranian government. Shakeri, identified as an asset of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, had previously been deported after serving time in the United States on robbery charges. According to court records, Shakeri revealed that in September, a Revolutionary Guard contact directed him to draft a plan within seven days to surveil and ultimately assassinate Trump.
The criminal complaint, unsealed in federal court in Manhattan, also implicates two additional men who were apprehended on related charges. These men, reportedly recruited by Iranian officials, are suspected of planning other assassinations, including one targeting a prominent Iranian American journalist. Shakeri remains in Iran, beyond the reach of U.S. authorities.
“Grave Threat” to U.S. National Security
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland condemned the plot, emphasizing the significant threat Iran poses to the United States. “There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran,” Garland stated. The Justice Department’s findings align with prior cases pointing to Iran’s intensified focus on American targets. Last year, a Pakistani national linked to Iran was charged in a similar murder-for-hire scheme.
Ongoing Efforts by Iran to Target U.S. Officials
The newly unsealed charges reveal federal officials’ concerns about Iran’s persistent efforts to target high-profile U.S. figures, including government officials and dissidents. These efforts seem to continue unabated even after Trump’s victory over Democrat Kamala Harris, marking a possible escalation in U.S.-Iranian confrontations on American soil.
As investigations advance, the Justice Department’s disclosure brings to light the increasing risks to U.S. leaders and underscores the severity of foreign plots targeting the nation’s top officials.