FBI Uncovers Iranian Scheme to Assassinate Trump, Target American Jews in NYC

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a significant development, on Friday, it was reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has revealed a criminal case that exposes an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump. According to a joint report on both Associated Press and Yeshiva World News, the charges, unsealed in a Manhattan federal court, outline a detailed scheme involving Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and an operative identified as Farjad Shakeri. The indictment claims that IRGC officials directed Shakeri to gather intelligence on Trump’s movements and devise an assassination plan.

The complaint alleges that the IRGC official communicated with Shakeri in September, instructing him to initiate a plan to surveil Trump and ultimately carry out the assassination. According to the document, Shakeri was initially given a strict timeframe to propose this plan. However, if he was unable to devise one, the IRGC official reportedly stated that the assassination plot would be postponed until after the 2024 presidential election, under the belief that Trump would lose and become an easier target thereafter, as was reported by the AP. Shakeri, when questioned by the FBI, disclosed that he had no intention of assembling a plan within the limited time frame the official had demanded, the court filing reveals.

Beyond the plot targeting Trump, the unsealed charges expose a broader strategy by the IRGC to extend its operations beyond Iran’s borders, focusing on terror and assassination missions targeting Jewish and American individuals. The documents reveal that IRGC operatives had directed an associate to carry out a terror attack in Sri Lanka against Israeli interests. Additionally, the AP reported that they offered a $1 million reward to the operative for assassinating two American Jewish businessmen residing in New York City. The identities of these targeted businessmen remain undisclosed.

The revelation of this plot calls attention to a growing concern among U.S. federal authorities regarding Iran’s intent to target American interests on U.S. soil. Although Trump recently won re-election over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, the DOJ’s timing in unsealing these charges sheds light on the continuous threat posed by Iranian operatives, even following an American election, as was indicated in the AP report. Federal officials have voiced alarm over Iran’s ongoing efforts to reach high-profile U.S. figures, signaling the potential for escalating hostilities.

The IRGC’s involvement in plotting high-profile assassinations and terror attacks represents a significant threat, marking an effort by Iran to expand its influence through intimidation and violence against American officials and Jewish communities worldwide. The Justice Department’s unsealed complaint brings these dangers to the forefront, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance against foreign interference and assassination plots that threaten national and international security.