In September, the Iranian government directed one of its operatives to stalk and assassinate former President Donald Trump, according to a bombshell indictment released Friday by federal prosecutors in Manhattan.
The indictment charges Iranian Farhad Shakeri and two New Yorkers with murder-for-hire and conspiracy, alleging that an unnamed official from the notorious Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) told Shakeri: “He directed them to focus on monitoring and ultimately assassinating the former president.” Endorsing US President Donald J. Trump in the final weeks of the 2024 election campaign.
Prosecutors said Shakeri said the plot would cost “huge amounts” of money, but an Revolutionary Guards official said: “We have already spent a lot of money…” [s]Oh, money isn't an issue. ”
In a phone conversation with an undercover FBI agent, Shakeri said he received instructions from the Revolutionary Guards on October 7 of this year to formulate a plan to kill President Trump “within seven days.”
Mr. Shakeri also inadvertently told the FBI that he had received instructions from Iran to plan a mass shooting targeting Israelis in Sri Lanka. As a result, the US and Israeli governments issued travel warnings for Sri Lanka on October 23rd.
If the agents miss the deadline, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards official reportedly said that the attack on President Trump would be delayed until after the election, but Tehran clearly believes the Republican candidate will lose. However, he seems to have decided that it would be easier to assassinate him after that. [him]”
The indictment refers to the president-elect as “Victim 4,” and charges Shaqueri, 51, Carlyle Rivera, 49, of Brooklyn, and Jonathan Rodholt, 36, of Staten Island. has been done.
Rivera and Lordholt received a stay of trial order Thursday from U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Willis. Mr. Shakeri is in Iran and is considered beyond the reach of U.S. justice.
“Forces directed by the Iranian government continue to target our citizens, including President-elect Trump, both in the United States and abroad,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damien Williams said in a statement Friday. “This must stop. Today's indictments are another message to those who continue the effort. We will continue to relentlessly pursue the bad actors, no matter where they live, and ensure our safety and security.” We will stop at nothing to bring those who harm us to justice.”
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
