A harrowing plan to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump has been uncovered, with Iranian operatives seeking revenge for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed top military leader Qassem Soleimani. The FBI has disclosed that the operation, coordinated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), involved three alleged hitmen, including Farhad Shakeri, who reportedly received direct orders on October 7 to target Trump on the anniversary of the recent Hamas attacks in Israel.
Shakeri, who was reportedly working with two associates based in New York, claimed he was initially assigned to track Iranian dissidents in the U.S. before the IRGC directed him to focus solely on Trump. The plan was to be executed within seven days, but the FBI intervened before the plot could be carried out. Shakeri and his associates, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, were promised substantial payments to execute the mission and to target other U.S. and Israeli citizens.
The Justice Department’s release of photos captured an arsenal of weapons intended for the hit, while chilling voice notes revealed the conspirators’ instructions to “have patience” and strike at the right moment. Although Rivera and Loadholt have been apprehended, Shakeri is believed to be in Tehran, out of U.S. law enforcement’s reach.
This assassination attempt marks a stark reminder of the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The IRGC, responsible for Quds Force operations abroad, remains on the U.S. list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, further complicating diplomatic efforts. The Justice Department has underscored Iran’s threat to national security, with Attorney General Merrick Garland affirming that Iran’s “assassination plots” will be met with unwavering defense.
The FBI has reassured targeted individuals and the public of ongoing vigilance, while Trump has yet to comment on the foiled attempt, which arrives just days after his re-election.
