By Burnett Munthali
In a startling revelation, Iranian operatives reportedly sought to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump just weeks before the 2020 U.S. presidential election. According to court documents unsealed on Friday, this information emerged during an investigation into an unrelated murder-for-hire scheme.
The central figure in these revelations, Farhad Shakeri, a 51-year-old Iranian national, was reportedly in Tehran at the time of his conversations with the FBI. Shakeri, who was negotiating a reduced prison sentence for an unnamed U.S. prisoner, detailed how a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approached him in late September. The IRGC official asked Shakeri to abandon plans to assassinate an Iranian dissident and instead focus on the assassination of Donald Trump.
This plot, which involved prioritizing the U.S. presidential candidate over high-profile regime critics, underscores the lengths to which Iranian operatives were willing to go to target political figures they perceived as adversaries. The case sheds light on Iran’s strategy in using external operatives to carry out covert operations, particularly against high-profile figures with strong rhetoric against the regime.
The documents reveal a chilling willingness to bypass previous operations, further complicating relations between the U.S. and Iran, especially in the midst of heightened tensions leading up to the 2020 election. While the plot did not come to fruition, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of international politics and the potential threats faced by high-profile figures globally.
This revelation could have long-term implications on U.S.-Iran relations and may influence policy decisions moving forward, especially regarding Iran’s continued engagement in covert operations against perceived enemies. The FBI’s involvement and subsequent investigation into the matter are expected to unravel more details about Iran’s international tactics.
