Three individuals face serious charges related to a series of Iran-linked assassination plots, including one targeting former U.S. President Donald Trump as an act of retribution for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, according to a criminal complaint unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The suspects, identified as Farhad Shakeri, Carlisle Rivera, and Jonathan Loadholt, face murder-for-hire charges. Rivera and Loadholt are in custody, while Shakeri, described by the FBI as an “asset” of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is believed to be residing in Tehran.
Assassination Plot Directed by the IRGC
The IRGC allegedly directed Shakeri to conduct surveillance and plan an assassination attempt on Trump as retribution for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Soleimani in Baghdad. This high-profile operation reportedly involved Shakeri coordinating with Rivera and Loadholt, who were his associates from a prior incarceration in the United States. According to Attorney General Merrick Garland, this development underscores the grave threat posed by Iran to U.S. national security, with the Justice Department working to thwart Iran’s influence and protect its targets, including prominent U.S. and Iranian-American figures.
Targeted Activist and U.S.-Based Jewish Americans
Among the intended targets was an Iranian-American activist in Brooklyn, widely believed to be Masih Alinejad. Known for her outspoken criticism of the Iranian government and her advocacy for human rights, Alinejad has previously faced threats from Iran. She recently shared on social media her shock at being informed by the FBI about her inclusion in this plot. The IRGC’s plans reportedly extended to include attacks on Jewish Americans in New York City and Israeli citizens abroad, with Shakeri promised $500,000 to assassinate these individuals.
The IRGC allegedly instructed Shakeri to prioritize the surveillance and assassination of Trump, even after the initial costs were raised. According to the complaint, an IRGC official assured Shakeri that funding would not be a concern, stating, “the money’s not an issue,” as resources had already been heavily invested in the plot.
