By Moselaunch 
The U.S. Department of Justice recently filed charges against Farhad Shakeri, a 51-year-old Afghan national, over an alleged Iranian-directed plot to assassinate Donald Trump. Prosecutors contend that Shakeri was enlisted by Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials to plan the surveillance and assassination of the former president, a plot that underscores ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. With Shakeri still at large and reportedly in Iran, the charges highlight complex geopolitical challenges and security concerns as both countries grapple with longstanding disputes.
Federal prosecutors filed the criminal complaint against Shakeri in a Manhattan court, asserting that his orders came directly from Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials, who had allegedly given him a strict seven-day timeframe to devise a plan to assassinate Trump. According to the indictment, Shakeri ultimately communicated to the officials that he did not intend to finalize any such scheme within that short period. In response, the officials reportedly advised that the plot be delayed until after the U.S. presidential election, assuming that Trump might lose, which they believed would make the operation easier.
In addition to the alleged assassination plot targeting Trump, the DOJ has charged Shakeri with orchestrating a plan involving two other men, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathon Loadholt. These individuals allegedly conspired to murder an American journalist who had openly criticized the Iranian government’s human rights abuses. Both Rivera, a 49-year-old from Brooklyn, and Loadholt, 36, from Staten Island, appeared in New York’s Southern District Court and are currently detained. Prosecutors claim that Shakeri promised $100,000 in exchange for the journalist’s murder, revealing what authorities say is an elaborate criminal network designed to silence outspoken critics and intimidate those who defy Iranian policies.
In response to the indictment, Iran has dismissed the allegations, with Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, calling them “completely baseless.” Baghaei stated that similar accusations had been previously levied against Iran, only to be proven false later. The spokesperson warned that repeating such claims could risk further complicating relations between the U.S. and Iran, already strained by other diplomatic and nuclear negotiations.
Shakeri’s background sheds light on the larger complexities surrounding this case. Prosecutors describe him as an Afghan native who arrived in the United States as a child but was later deported around 2008 following a 14-year prison sentence for robbery. In custody, he reportedly cultivated a network of associates, including Rivera and Loadholt, to support the Iranian government’s goals. Allegedly, this network of criminal associates has been involved in monitoring multiple targets at Iran’s behest, including two Jewish-American businesspeople active on social media with pro-Israel views. Authorities claim Shakeri had also been directed by Iranian officials to plan a mass shooting aimed at Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka, an attack allegedly proposed for October 2024.
The revelation of this assassination plot comes amid two other alleged attempts on Trump’s life within the past year. During a July rally in Pennsylvania, a gunman reportedly grazed the former president’s ear, while in September, a man was arrested after aiming a rifle at Trump as he played golf in West Palm Beach. These incidents underline the intensified security risks surrounding Trump as he prepares for a potential return to the presidency, as well as the broader threats posed by international tensions.
The indictment against Shakeri, Rivera, and Loadholt includes charges of murder-for-hire, which carries a potential ten-year prison sentence, along with money laundering conspiracy and additional charges related to the alleged murder plots, which could lead to up to 20 years in prison.
Among those allegedly targeted by Shakeri’s network is a prominent journalist, who recently shared details on social media about an FBI investigation into two men attempting to approach her Brooklyn residence. Masih Alinejad, a U.S.-based critic of the Iranian regime, stated her commitment to exercising her First Amendment rights and advocating for human rights, emphasizing her right to free speech without fear. The charges illuminate the stakes for dissidents like Alinejad, who continue to speak out despite the risks, and highlight the urgency for U.S. law enforcement agencies to safeguard those who oppose oppressive regimes.
This case not only sheds light on the alleged criminal activities undertaken on behalf of the Iranian regime but also underscores the critical issues in U.S.-Iran relations. With these charges, the DOJ has put a spotlight on Iran’s alleged use of foreign operatives to intimidate and silence critics abroad. The ramifications of this case may further strain diplomatic efforts between the two nations, setting the stage for increased scrutiny and pressure on Tehran’s international operations.