Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national with a criminal history in the United States, has emerged as a key figure in an alleged plot to assassinate US President-elect Donald Trump. The conspiracy, reportedly orchestrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran, marks a significant escalation in Tehran's ongoing efforts to counteract perceived adversaries on American soil.
Shakeri’s journey from a deported convict to an alleged operative for the Iranian regime underscores a complicated web of international politics and personal history. Having immigrated to the US as a child, Shakeri turned to crime early in his life and was convicted of robbery in 1994, serving 14 years in New York state prisons. His connections with the IRGC reportedly deepened during his incarceration, particularly at a Beacon facility where he encountered Carlisle Rivera, another future co-conspirator.
Following his release and deportation to Afghanistan in 2008, Shakeri continued his ties to Iranian operatives. His involvement with Iranian intelligence culminated in his assignment to execute a murder-for-hire plot targeting Trump in September 2024. The plan was meant to retaliate against Trump’s aggressive policies toward Iran, including the withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the 2020 assassination of General Qassem Soleimani. The criminal complaint filed in Manhattan federal court details Shakeri’s meetings with IRGC officials, who assured him that financial constraints would not hinder the operation.
When Shakeri failed to complete the mission by the stipulated deadline, the IRGC allegedly postponed the plan until after the US election, believing Trump’s potential defeat would make the assassination easier.
The indictment also mentions co-conspirators Jonathan Loadholt and Carlisle Rivera, linking the Trump plot to a broader effort that included targeting human rights activist Masih Alinejad in Brooklyn. Shakeri’s involvement is part of Iran’s broader strategy to silence critics and disrupt US security. While Shakeri remains at large in Iran, US authorities continue to pursue legal and diplomatic measures to hold those involved accountable.
