The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced charges against Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national accused of being part of an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump before he won the presidential election. According to the indictment, Shakeri, 51, was allegedly tasked by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to plan the assassination of Trump, along with other targets critical of Iran’s regime.
Shakeri remains at large and is believed to be in Iran, which has denied the allegations, calling them baseless. The indictment also charges two American men, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathon Loadholt, accused of working with Shakeri in a scheme to kill a New York-based journalist known for speaking out against Iranian government abuses. This journalist, reportedly under FBI protection, described a close encounter with the alleged attackers outside her home.
U.S. officials say the alleged plot targeted not only Trump but also pro-Israel Jewish American businesspeople and planned a broader attack on Israeli tourists abroad. Shakeri, along with his two alleged associates, faces charges including murder-for-hire and money laundering conspiracy, which could lead to significant prison time.
The accusations add to existing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with Iranian officials warning that these claims could worsen diplomatic relations.
