In a startling escalation of diplomatic tensions between the United States and Iran, the U.S. Department of Justice has charged an Iranian national in connection with a plot to assassinate Donald Trump. Farhad Shakeri, identified as an alleged Iranian government asset, is accused of coordinating a plan under orders from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to target Trump before his recent re-election. Shakeri, who is reportedly based in Iran, relayed details of the plot to FBI agents, exposing a complex network of Tehran-linked operatives intent on targeting prominent U.S. figures.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court, Shakeri stated that his Revolutionary Guard contact directed him to develop an actionable plan to monitor and kill Trump within a one-week timeframe. This plan was allegedly initiated just before the election, with the understanding that it would be delayed if Trump lost, as the official purportedly believed it would be easier to carry out the plot if Trump was a private citizen. Shakeri also reported that “money’s not an issue” for Tehran, which was willing to pay handsomely for the operation.
The complaint further reveals that Shakeri, who previously served 14 years in a U.S. prison for robbery before being deported, has long-standing connections with Iranian officials. He is also accused of orchestrating plots to assassinate other U.S. targets, including Jewish-Americans in New York and Israeli tourists abroad, allegedly under orders from the Revolutionary Guard.
In a statement, FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned the plot, emphasizing that it reflects a “brazen” and persistent threat posed by Iran to U.S. citizens and officials critical of the Iranian regime. Wray underscored that Iran’s continued focus on targeting American figures highlights the depth of its opposition to U.S. policies, particularly those introduced during Trump’s first term, including the termination of the Iran nuclear deal, re-imposition of economic sanctions, and the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
The timing of this disclosure, just days after Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris, has significant implications for U.S.-Iran relations as Trump prepares to take office once more. The alleged plot not only reflects Iran’s ongoing antagonism toward Trump’s foreign policy but also showcases its readiness to employ violence on U.S. soil as a means of retaliation.
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, addressed the assassination threat, asserting that Trump remains undeterred in his commitment to “restoring peace around the world.” Meanwhile, Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the case exemplifies Iran’s severe threat to U.S. national security, with Tehran’s willingness to target U.S. leaders underscoring the high stakes of American-Iranian diplomacy.
While Shakeri remains in Iran and is unlikely to face extradition, the Justice Department’s complaint sheds light on the broader issue of Iranian state-sponsored plots on foreign soil. U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran’s animosity toward Trump is rooted in his administration’s pressure tactics, which included the assassination of high-profile Iranian military officials and economic measures that isolated Tehran diplomatically and economically.
This case has renewed calls among policymakers for a strategic reassessment of U.S.-Iran relations as Trump’s administration looks to reinforce security measures against foreign interference. Although Iran’s UN Mission declined to comment, intelligence experts suggest that Iranian plots like Shakeri’s are designed not only to threaten American lives but to exert psychological and political pressure on the U.S., as Tehran seeks to counteract perceived American hostilities.
As the new administration prepares to take office, the specter of foreign-backed assassination attempts underscores the precarious nature of U.S.-Iran relations and the potential ramifications for national security.