U.S. Justice Department Unveils Foiled Plot to Assassinate Trump by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice released details of an indictment related to the thwarting of a plot by the Islamic Republic to assassinate Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, before the presidential election. According to a criminal indictment filed in federal court in Manhattan, New York, an unnamed official of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had ordered one of Iran's operatives in September to prepare a plan to surveil and ultimately kill Trump. The Islamic Republic's attempts to target its Iranian opponents on U.S. soil, as well as American officials, are not new. According to an indictment released on Tuesday, federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged a senior IRGC official and three other men connected to the Iranian government with involvement in the failed assassination plot against Masih Alinejad, a journalist and host of VOA's Tablet program, in 2022. U.S. officials had previously issued an indictment against a citizen of Azerbaijan and two citizens of Georgia for their involvement in a plot to hire a hitman to kill Alinejad. The Justice Department's statement on Friday accused Farhad Shakri, a 51-year-old resident of Iran, and Carlyle Rivera, 49, and Jonathan Ludhilt, 36, both residents of New York, of being involved in a plot to murder 'an Iranian-American citizen in New York.' According to the statement, the two New York residents were arrested on Thursday, while Farhad Shakri is likely in Iran. Merrick Garland, the U.S. Attorney General, stated that there is no threat to U.S. national security as serious as that posed by the Islamic Republic. He noted that the Justice Department has charged an IRGC operative who was tasked by the Iranian government with leading a network of criminals to carry out assassination plots against targets like Donald Trump. Garland added that two other individuals who were hired as part of this network to silence and kill a critical American journalist in the U.S. were arrested and charged. The Attorney General emphasized that the U.S. will not tolerate the Islamic Republic's efforts to endanger national security and American citizens. FBI Director Christopher Wray also released a statement saying that the charges announced on Friday demonstrate the Iranian government's 'ongoing and brazen' efforts to attack American citizens, including Donald Trump, other U.S. leaders, and opponents of the Islamic Republic. He stated that the IRGC, as a foreign terrorist organization, has been conspiring with criminals and assassins to attack Americans on U.S. soil, and such actions will not be tolerated. Wray added that thanks to the FBI's intensive efforts, deadly plots were disrupted. He reiterated that the FBI is committed to using all its resources to protect American citizens from the Islamic Republic and any other enemies intending to attack Americans. Senator Marco Rubio reacted to the U.S. Justice Department's report on the Islamic Republic's plot to assassinate the elected President, stating, 'The Iranian regime wants to kill Donald because they see him as a threat to their survival.' Senator Sullivan expressed his anticipation of working with Trump on the 'maximum pressure' policy. Dan Sullivan, a Republican senator from Alaska, reposted the news regarding the Islamic Republic's attempt to assassinate Donald Trump, stating that he has pressured the Biden administration over the past four years to reinstate Trump's successful maximum pressure policy against the Islamic Republic. Senator Sullivan indicated that he is eagerly looking forward to collaborating again with the Trump administration on these 'critical issues.' Senator Lankford emphasized the need to remain vigilant against terrorism. James Lankford, a Republican senator from Colorado, reacted to the news of the Islamic Republic's attempt to assassinate Donald Trump, stating that the Iranian government hates the freedom present in the United States, and this assassination plot is further evidence of that hatred. He commended the swift actions of the FBI and other agencies in thwarting this assassination plot, stating, 'We must remain vigilant against terrorism here in the United States and continue to take necessary actions to protect the security of Americans.' Senator Ernst stated that Donald Trump will reinstate the 'maximum pressure' sanctions. Joni Ernst, a senior Republican senator, reacted to the news of the Islamic Republic's attempt to assassinate Donald Trump, stating that Trump will reinstate the 'maximum pressure' sanctions and once again bankrupt the Iranian government. Senator Ernst asserted that the regime based on terror and intimidation of the Islamic Republic must come to an end. Senator Kennedy remarked that the Iranian government hates Americans. Farhad Shakri is identified as an IRGC operative living in Tehran, Iran. Shakri, who immigrated to the United States as a child, was deported around 2008 after serving 14 years in prison for theft. The Associated Press identified Shakri as having Afghan origins. The Justice Department's statement indicated that Shakri has recently utilized a network of criminal associates he became acquainted with while in U.S. prison to supply operational forces to the IRGC to conduct surveillance and assassination of IRGC targets. The Islamic Republic has been accused over the years of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump and several senior members of his administration. In the most recent instance, the United States warned the Islamic Republic in October that any assassination attempt against Donald Trump would be considered an 'act of war' and would be countered. The Islamic Republic's attempts to assassinate its political opponents abroad, as well as former officials of the Trump administration, including Trump himself, have a history. Reuters reported in mid-October that the Islamic Republic has been involved in at least 33 assassination or kidnapping attempts in Europe and the U.S. since 2020.