The U.S. Department of Justice recently unsealed new charges revealing a murder-for-hire plot ordered by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against Donald Trump prior to the election. These revelations are putting pressure on the Biden administration to take action. The IRGC directed an Iranian asset to surveil and put together a plan to assassinate Trump before the November elections, prompting U.S. intelligence officials to brief Trump in September about threats from Iran to assassinate him. Both President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have identified Iranian threats against Trump as a top-tier national security issue and have stated that any attempt by the IRGC to harm Trump would be met with military action.
Since January 2020, when Trump ordered the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, he has been a target of the IRGC. News of the thwarted attack on Trump comes after he survived two earlier assassination attempts earlier this year while campaigning for a second term. The threats from Iran have led to an increase in the Secret Service’s security presence around the Trump campaign in recent months. However, it remains uncertain how Trump plans to further enhance security at his residences in the lead-up to his inauguration.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that few actors in the world pose as grave a threat to national security as Iran does. He emphasized that the U.S. will not tolerate the Iranian regime’s attempts to endanger American people and national security. The criminal complaint disclosed that an IRGC official had instructed the asset, Farhad Shakeri, to focus on surveilling and ultimately assassinating Trump. Shakeri, who remains at large and is believed to be living in Iran, was deported in 2008 after serving time in prison for a robbery conviction.
The documents also reveal that the IRGC official directed Shakeri to provide a plan within seven days to kill Trump, implying that if the plan couldn’t be put forth in that time, the IRGC would pause its plan until after the U.S. Presidential elections. This was based on an assessment that Trump would lose the election, making it easier to carry out the assassination afterward. Additionally, federal prosecutors have charged and arrested two individuals in connection with a plot to murder a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin in New York. The Department of Justice did not comment on the threats or the ongoing investigation.
The White House and the State Department have not elaborated on the nature of the threat from the IRGC or how they plan to respond. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a designated terrorist organization and has been targeting Trump since he ordered the strike that killed Soleimani. The thwarted assassination attempts on Trump earlier this year highlight the gravity of the threats he faces from Iran. It is essential for the Biden administration to address these threats appropriately to ensure the safety and security of Trump and all citizens.
To combat the threats posed by Iran, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies and national security officials to work together to uncover and neutralize any plots targeting U.S. citizens. Despite challenges in apprehending individuals like Shakeri, who remains at large, efforts must be made to bring them to justice and prevent further harm. The Department of Justice’s actions in unsealing charges and prosecuting individuals involved in these plots demonstrate a commitment to protecting national security and upholding the rule of law. Collaborative efforts between federal agencies, intelligence officials, and law enforcement are essential in addressing threats from entities like the IRGC and safeguarding the country’s interests.
