Janice R. Andrews
Three individuals have been charged in a plot, allegedly linked to Iran, aiming to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump. The Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed the charges, revealing that the suspected scheme was supposedly a retaliatory act in response to the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force.
Individuals Named in the Alleged Plot
According to the DOJ, the three charged are Farhad Shakeri, Carlisle Rivera, and Jonathan Loadholt. Shakeri, reportedly described as an “asset” of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is thought to be residing in Tehran. The two other suspects, Rivera and Loadholt, both New York residents, have been detained. Allegedly, Shakeri’s role was to oversee plans to assassinate Trump, along with an Iranian-American activist critical of the Iranian government.
IRGC’s Involvement and Motive Behind the Plan
The DOJ claims the IRGC directed Shakeri to avenge Soleimani’s death. Soleimani was killed by a targeted U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020, intensifying U.S.-Iran tensions. According to court documents, Shakeri was instructed by the IRGC to prioritize surveillance and eventual assassination of Trump, in addition to other potential targets, including U.S. and Israeli citizens.
Attorney General Merrick Garland underscored the gravity of Iran’s continued threat to U.S. national security, particularly through its connections to proxies and organized networks that threaten prominent individuals. According to the complaint, Shakeri mentioned the high costs associated with the assassination attempt to his handler, who assured him that “money’s not an issue.”
Additional Targets and Previous Criminal History
Shakeri, deported from the U.S. in 2008 after a prison term for robbery, reportedly recruited Rivera and Loadholt during his time behind bars. The DOJ claims he later hired them to target Iranian-American activists in New York, including a prominent journalist and activist who may be Masih Alinejad. Known for her outspoken criticism of the Iranian regime, Alinejad has been targeted in multiple previous plots linked to Iranian operatives.
Last month, federal prosecutors filed charges against IRGC Brig. Gen. Ruhollah Bazghandi, accusing him of involvement in another plot to assassinate Alinejad. In response, Alinejad shared on social media that the FBI’s recent notification about the arrests felt like “a second chance at life.”
Expanded Network of Targets
Court filings indicate Shakeri was instructed to monitor and potentially assassinate two Jewish-American residents in New York City and target Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka. He allegedly disclosed to the FBI that he was promised $500,000 per target by an IRGC handler. Authorities suggest that the IRGC’s network wasn’t solely focused on Trump but also extended to various individuals perceived as enemies of Iran, both domestically and internationally.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams reiterated the DOJ’s commitment to safeguarding American citizens, stressing that the Iranian government’s influence reaches deep into U.S. borders and that the DOJ will continue to seek justice against any threat.
DOJ’s Message and Ongoing Investigation
The DOJ stated that the charges against Shakeri, Rivera, and Loadholt signal a firm stance against foreign actors who plan violent actions on American soil. With Rivera and Loadholt in custody, investigators are working to further trace Shakeri’s connections to other Iranian operatives within the network.
Although Shakeri, believed to be in Tehran, remains out of reach, the DOJ assured that it would tirelessly pursue any involved party, regardless of location, to uphold U.S. security. The case remains active, with officials dedicated to identifying and addressing any associates within the plot who may continue to threaten U.S. citizens.
