2022 Iranian operative murder plot

In August 2022, Shahram Poursafi (also known as "Mehdi Rezayi"[1]), a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was charged for "providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot".[2][3][4]

The Department of Justice charged Poursafi with "plotting to assassinate former President Donald Trump's national security advisor John Bolton."[5]

Poursafi is currently wanted by the FBI.[6] If captured and convicted, he could face up to 15 years in jail for "providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot".[7]

Background

U.S. prosecutors said that Poursafi's attempt to arrange the killing of Bolton was "likely" in retaliation for the Assassination of Qasem Soleimani in 2020.[8][9] Bolton has also been an open critic of Iran's atomic program.[10]

Charges

The charges describe Poursafi contacting a US resident that he had met on the Internet and asking for photographs of John Bolton for an alleged book he was working on. The unnamed resident then referred Poursafi to another person who was then asked to "kill Mr Bolton and provide video evidence of the murder."[11]

The person who was offered the money then became an informant for the FBI. He continued to communicate with Poursafi using an encrypted communications app.[12]

Poursafi provided the FBI informant with Bolton's office address, saying he wanted "the guy" to be "purged or eliminated".[13]

According to court papers, Poursafi negotiated a potential payment of $300,000 for the hiring of the assassination.[14][15] According to the Justice Department, Poursafi also mentioned an "additional job" for which $1 million would be paid.[16]

Reactions

John Bolton said that the Biden administration was holding back "criticism of Iran’s government for the targeting of both himself and other Americans on US soil for fear of tanking nuclear negotiations with Tehran."[17] Bolton also said "I think this is a plot by the Iranian government against a former official of the US government. I can say I'm not the only one that the Ayatollahs in Tehran are trying to assassinate."[18]

The Justice Department's Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said "This is not the first time we have uncovered Iranian plots to exact revenge against individuals on U.S. soil and we will work tirelessly to expose and disrupt every one of these efforts."[19]

The White House warned the Iranian government of "severe consequences" if it targets U.S. citizens.[20]

See also

References
  1. Borger, Julian (10 August 2022). "US charges Iranian man over alleged plot to kill ex-Trump aide John Bolton". The Guardian.
  2. "Member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor". Justice.gov. 10 August 2022.
  3. "Iranian military operative charged in plot to murder former national security adviser John Bolton". CBS News.
  4. "Iranian operative charged in plot to assassinate former National Security Adviser John Bolton". ABC Chicago. 10 August 2022.
  5. "U.S. charges Iranian military operative in plot to assassinate former Trump advisor John Bolton". CNBC.
  6. "Iranian operative charged over 'plot to kill Donald Trump's former adviser John Bolton', says US". Sky News.
  7. "Iranian National Charged in Plot to Kill Former Top Trump Advisor John Bolton". Time.com. 10 August 2022.
  8. "Iranian charged in plot to murder ex-Trump Security Adviser John Bolton". NY Post. 10 August 2022.
  9. "Iranian Operative Charged in Plot To Murder John Bolton". VOA News.
  10. "Iranian operative charged in plot to murder ex-Trump adviser John Bolton". Global News.
  11. "John Bolton: Iranian man charged in US over alleged assassination plot". BBC News. 10 August 2022.
  12. Borger, Julian (10 August 2022). "US charges Iranian man over alleged plot to kill ex-Trump aide John Bolton". The Guardian.
  13. "FBI charges Iranian agent over plot to murder former US national security adviser John Bolton". ABC News. ABC. 10 August 2022.
  14. "Iranian operative charged in plot to kill former national security advisor John Bolton". LA Times. 10 August 2022.
  15. "Iranian charged in alleged plot to kill former national security adviser John Bolton". NPR.
  16. "US uncovers Iran 'plot' to kill ex-White House official John Bolton". Arab News. 10 August 2022.
  17. "Bolton accuses Biden administration of staying quiet on assassination plot to please Iran". The Independent. 17 August 2022.
  18. "Iranian operative charged over 'plot to kill Donald Trump's former adviser John Bolton', says US". Sky News.
  19. "An Iranian national is charged in a plot to kill John Bolton". NBC news.
  20. "US accuses Iranian operative of plotting to kill John Bolton". Al Jazeera.
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