An “Iranian asset” has been accused of plotting an alleged conspiracy by the country’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to kill Donald Trump – the President-elect of the United States who has already been killed twice. The Republican leader, who returned to the White House this January, was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt in July.
The Justice Department dubbed Farhad Shakeri an “Iranian asset” who was tasked by the Iranian regime with plotting to assassinate Trump on October 7. According to the official statement, Shakeri, 51, reportedly told law enforcement that he did not intend to propose a plan to kill Trump within the deadline set by the IRGC. Iran has denied the allegations.
“The Justice Department has charged an Iranian regime individual who was tasked by the regime with directing a network of criminal associates to advance Iran’s assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said.
The US has designated the IRGC a terrorist organization.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said the charges show that Iran continues to target US citizens, including Trump and other leaders and government officials who criticise the Iranian regime. “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is conspiring with criminals and assassins to target and shoot Americans on US soil and this will not be tolerated,” he said.
Shakeri came to the US as a child and was deported around 2008 after being convicted of a robbery count, the statement said. Prosecutors believe Shakeri is now in Iran.
Shakeri – who is identified as an Afghan national in the criminal complaint against him – is also accused of hiring two men in New York, whom he met in prison, to kill a US citizen of Iranian descent who had publicly opposed the Iranian government. Two New York residents – Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt – are also charged for their alleged involvement in the assassination plot.
Iran denies allegation
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denied allegations of planning to assassinate Trump, calling them “completely baseless”. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghei said in a statement that the ministry “rejects the allegation that Iran is involved in assassination attempts targeting former or current US officials”.
Threats and robot dogs
After suffering two attacks on his life and now on his way to the most powerful office, the president-elect’s security has become a top priority for the US Secret Service. Robot dogs are being used to patrol Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
A bullet grazed Trump’s ear during an attempted assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania in July. A second attempt was reported three months later at a Florida golf club, when shots were fired around the former president. This time Trump was not injured.
When it became clear after the election results on November 6 that he would return for a second term, Trump said in his victory speech that he was told God had saved his life for a reason. “And that reason was to save our country and restore America to greatness,” he said.
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