US Government Offers Reward for Information on Iranian Accused of Assassination Plot

The US State Department has announced a reward of up to $20 million for information that could lead to the arrest of an Iranian man. This man, Shahram Poursafi, is accused of plotting to assassinate John Bolton, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump.

Details of the Alleged Plot

45-year-old Poursafi, a resident of Tehran, is suspected of acting on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). This organization is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. According to a statement from the State Department, Poursafi was arranging a murder-for-hire scheme against Bolton. A criminal complaint filed by the Justice Department in August 2022 suggested that this alleged plot was likely in response to the death of IRGC-QF commander Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike in January 2020.

Allegations Against Poursafi

According to the Department, Poursafi attempted to hire "criminal elements" within the United States to kill Bolton in Washington or Maryland between October 2021 and April 2022. He offered $300,000 in exchange for the assassination. Poursafi is also accused of providing material support and resources to facilitate the attempted murder. He allegedly promised a "second assassination job" to the potential assassin after Bolton's murder was completed. The potential assassin later became a confidential source for US investigators.

Further Developments

Poursafi is accused of asking a US resident, referred to as "Individual A", to take photographs of Bolton. He claimed that the photos were needed for a book he was writing. This resident then introduced Poursafi to a covert government informant who could take the photographs for a fee. Investigators report that Poursafi contacted the informant on an encrypted messaging application in November 2021. He offered the informant $250,000 to hire someone to "eliminate" Bolton. This amount was later negotiated up to $300,000.

Cryptocurrency and Assassination

Poursafi directed the informant to open a cryptocurrency account to facilitate the payment. He allegedly told the informant that it did not matter how the killing was carried out, but his group would require a video as proof of the act. When the informant asked about the potential repercussions of the killing being attributed to Iran, Poursafi allegedly reassured the informant that his group would handle it.

Official Designation

Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, has been designated a "specially designated global terrorist" by the US government due to his alleged involvement in the plot.

Trump Briefed on Iranian Threats

The announcement from the State Department came just two days after Trump’s campaign stated that the Republican presidential candidate had been briefed by US intelligence about "real and specific" Iranian threats to his life.

Iran's Response

An official from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied allegations that Tehran was involved in plots to assassinate the Republican presidential candidate.

Assassination Attempts on Trump

Trump was the target of an assassination attempt during his Pennsylvania rally in July when he was shot in the ear. The gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Pennsylvania, was fatally shot by authorities. A second apparent assassination attempt occurred at Trump’s golf club in Florida on Sept. 15. Police arrested Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man from Hawaii, in connection with the incident.

Bottom Line

This story highlights the complex and often dangerous world of international politics and security. It's a sobering reminder of the lengths some individuals or groups will go to in order to achieve their objectives. What are your thoughts on this matter? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.