What's happened
U.S. prosecutors have charged Farhad Shakeri, an Iranian national, in connection with a plot to assassinate president-elect Donald Trump. The plot, allegedly orchestrated by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, also targeted Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad. Shakeri remains at large in Iran, while two accomplices have been arrested in the U.S.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, federal prosecutors revealed a detailed surveillance operation involving Shakeri and his associates, who were allegedly directed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards to carry out the assassination. The Guardian noted that this plot reflects Iran's broader strategy of outsourcing violent operations to criminal groups. Meanwhile, SBS reported that Iranian officials have denied the allegations, calling them a fabrication aimed at complicating U.S.-Iran relations. The Independent highlighted Shakeri's previous criminal background and his recruitment by Iranian operatives, emphasizing the serious nature of the threats posed by the Iranian regime.
How we got here
The plot against Trump and Alinejad is part of a broader pattern of Iranian attempts to target dissidents and U.S. officials. Previous attempts to kidnap Alinejad were reported in 2021, highlighting ongoing threats from Iran's government against critics abroad.
Common question
-
What are the details of the Iranian plot to assassinate Trump?
Recent news has revealed a serious plot involving an Afghan national charged with conspiring to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump on behalf of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps. This alarming development raises questions about the implications for Trump's security and the broader political landscape as the 2024 election approaches. Below, we explore key questions surrounding this plot and its potential impact.
More on these topics
-
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
-
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, founded after the Iranian Revolution on 22 April 1979 by order of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
-
Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
-
Masih Alinejad is an Iranian journalist, author, political activist, and women's rights activist. Alinejad currently works as a presenter/producer at VOA Persian Service, a correspondent for Radio Farda, a frequent contributor to Manoto television, and a
-
Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
-
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency.