Official U.S. government foreign policy statements and analyses by major think tanks

FBI Thwarts IRGC's $500,000 Plot to Assassinate President-elect Trump and Activist Masih Alinejad

Nov 9, 2024, 04:02 PM

U.S. law enforcement authorities have charged multiple individuals, including Iranian citizen Farhad Shakeri and New York resident Carlisle "Pop" Rivera, in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump and other prominent figures. The FBI thwarted the $500,000-per-target murder-for-hire scheme, which was allegedly orchestrated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in retaliation for the U.S. killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Targets of the plot included Iranian American journalist and women's rights activist Masih Alinejad, who urged President-elect Trump not to negotiate with Tehran. IRGC General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted saying, "Our goal is to kill Trump." The plot also involved plans to target Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Araqchi, have denied the allegations, calling them a "malicious conspiracy," and stated that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons. FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force Special Agent in Charge Rob Kissane issued a statement on the disrupted plot. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed gratitude to law enforcement for preventing the attacks. The U.S. Justice Department unsealed the charges shortly after the presidential election results, underscoring the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran.