Just when you had hoped you’d heard the last about attempts on President-elect Trump’s life, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has levied charges against an Iranian national implicated in a plot to kill our next President. And this should be a surprise to no one; Iran is behind it.
This revelation underscores the persistent threats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against former US officials, particularly in retaliation for the 2020 killing of IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani, as you’ll likely remember, was killed by a US drone strike in January 2020 in Baghdad on the orders of President Trump. The attack also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Details of the Assassination Plot
According to the DOJ, Farhad Shakeri, 51, an Iranian national living in Tehran, was directed in September of 2024 by an IRGC official to develop a plan to surveil and ultimately assassinate President-elect Trump. Shakeri allegedly also communicated with two individuals in New York, offering $100,000 for the murder of an American of Iranian origin who is a vocal critic of the Iranian regime. These individuals were, in fact, undercover law enforcement agents, leading to the exposure of the plot. You can read the DOJ documents on the case here. Below, I’ve thrown in page one.
DOJ documents on Trump assassination plotBy October 7th, the IRGC grew impatient, and they demanded that Shakeri devise a plan within a week to kill Trump. Shakeri informed investigators that he had no intention of meeting the deadline. The IRGC official allegedly stated that if the plan could not be finalized within the week, it would be postponed until after the 2024 US election, assuming Trump’s defeat would make him an easier target.
The plot was part of a broader scheme that also targeted an Iranian-American journalist (believed to be Masih Alinejad), two Jewish-American businessmen in New York, and Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.
American Involvement
According to information provided by the DOJ, Carlisle Rivera (also known as Pop) and Jonathan Loadholt played a significant role in the Iranian plot. They were the two Americans arrested in New York in connection with plotting with Shakeri. Their role was to assist in monitoring and potentially assassinating American targets. The pair were specifically accused of conducting surveillance on Alinejad. They monitored her during an event earlier in the year and at her New York City residence.
Rivera and Loadholt are cited in court documents as having discussed receiving a $100,000 payment from Shakeri to “get it done.” This was referring to the killing of Alinejad. The pair were charged with murder for hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. They recently appeared in court and were ordered detained by the Justice Department. Shakeri is still at large and is believed to be somewhere in Iran.
It should be noted that while Rivera and Loadholt are implicated in the larger Iranian plot, they were not directly implicated in the plan to assassinate President-elect Trump.
US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has said of the case:
“There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran. The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran’s assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump. We have also charged and arrested two individuals who we allege were recruited as part of that network to silence and kill, on US soil, an American journalist who has been a prominent critic of the regime. We will not stand for the Iranian regime’s attempts to endanger the American people and America’s national security.”
DOJ’s Response and Legal Actions
The DOJ has charged Shakeri with the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and providing material support to a transnational murder plot. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that the DOJ will “spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens.”
The murder-for-hire charge carries a potential 10-year prison sentence if Shakeri is ever brought to trial in the US. The conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a potential prison time of 20 years.
Iran’s Denial and International Implications
Iran has firmly denied allegations of plotting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump. Iranian officials have dismissed these accusations as completely baseless and fabricated.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called the allegations a “new scenario” created to stir up tensions. He likened the claims to a poorly written play. Similarly, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the accusations as “repulsive” and blamed anti-Iranian factions, including Israel, for orchestrating the story.
Despite rejecting the allegations, Iran expressed interest in improving relations with the US Araqchi emphasized the need for mutual respect and confidence-building. He reiterated that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons and called for both sides to take steps toward reducing tensions.
Some Iranian analysts believe there is still room for secret talks between the US and Iran. Analyst Saeed Laylaz suggested that dialogue could happen if security concerns against Iran are addressed, even if formal diplomatic ties are not restored.
These accusations could escalate tensions between the US and Iran, making diplomatic relations more difficult. The Middle East’s stability could also be affected as both nations have opposing interests in the region. The allegations might further complicate future discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and raise broader security concerns. Other countries could feel pressure to reassess their relationships with Iran based on how this situation unfolds.
While Iran continues to deny involvement, the situation remains tense. The international community will be closely watching how this impacts US-Iran relations and global stability in the coming weeks.
Historical Context and Ongoing Threats
This is not the first instance of Iran plotting against former US officials. In 2022, the DOJ charged an IRGC member with attempting to arrange the murder of former National Security Advisor John Bolton, likely in retaliation for Soleimani’s death.
Summing Up
The Department of Justice’s efforts to expose and prosecute this alleged assassination plot highlight the ongoing threats from state-sponsored groups like Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These actions show just how crucial strong intelligence and law enforcement are in keeping the country safe. Protecting current and former officials from foreign adversaries requires constant vigilance.
This case also reflects the broader challenges the US faces in its relationship with Iran. While Iran denies the allegations and calls them fabricated, the accusations further complicate already tense relations. The situation emphasizes the need for reliable security measures and international cooperation to prevent such plots. As the US continues to address threats from state-sponsored actors, maintaining a proactive stance will be key to ensuring both national security and regional stability.
