Federal prosecutors have revealed that a third man, believed to be an Iranian operative, was giving orders to the men involved in a plot to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump.
Iran-backed plot to kill activist Masih Alinejad foiled by U.S. authorities
In a recent development, federal prosecutors have uncovered a sinister plot orchestrated by Iran to assassinate Masih Alinejad, a prominent human-rights activist known for her advocacy against the repression of women in Iran. The foiled murder-for-hire scheme involved a surveillance operation carried out by two individuals sent from New York to Fairfield University in Connecticut, where Ms. Alinejad was scheduled to speak.
The criminal complaint filed by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York revealed that the two men, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, were tasked with monitoring and gathering information about Ms. Alinejad, with the intention of carrying out the assassination plot. The third individual involved in the scheme, Farhad Shakeri, acted as an Iranian operative providing instructions to Rivera and Loadholt.
According to the complaint, Shakeri disclosed to federal authorities that he had also been assigned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran to plan an assassination attempt on then-President Donald J. Trump before the presidential election. The chilling revelation underscores the grave threat posed by Iran’s government-sponsored activities targeting individuals critical of its regime, both within the United States and abroad.
In the aftermath of the Fairfield University event, Rivera received a money transfer, signaling the financial backing of the operation. Subsequently, Rivera and Loadholt conducted surveillance on Ms. Alinejad’s residence in Brooklyn, taking photographs and relaying information to Shakeri. The meticulous planning and execution of the plot underscore the lengths to which Iran was willing to go to silence its critics.
The U.S. attorney for the Southern District, Damian Williams, condemned the assassination plot and highlighted the ongoing threat posed by Iran-sponsored actors targeting American citizens. The revelation of the thwarted plot serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and robust countermeasures to safeguard individuals at risk of being targeted by hostile foreign entities.
The brazen attempt to assassinate Masih Alinejad and the planned attack on President Trump underscore the urgency of addressing the persistent threat posed by Iran’s malign activities. The coordinated efforts of federal authorities to disrupt and dismantle such plots are crucial in protecting the safety and security of individuals speaking out against tyranny and oppression.
Source: The NY Times
