Allegations of Iranian assassination plots targeting Donald Trump have resurfaced amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. Newly highlighted reports describe two separate plots in 2024 that investigators say were linked to Iran and involved recruiting operatives to kill the then-presidential candidate.
One of the plans allegedly gave conspirators just seven days to develop an assassination strategy, according to US court filings and reporting by The New York Post.
The cases are drawing renewed attention after the escalating US–Iran conflict, with investigators suggesting the plots were tied to Tehran’s vow to avenge the 2020 killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.
What were the alleged assassination plots against Donald Trump?
US investigators say two separate schemes in 2024 involved individuals allegedly connected to Iran attempting to organize attacks against high-profile American figures.
According to court documents and media reports, the plots centered on recruiting operatives inside the United States to carry out the attack.
One scheme involved a suspected Iranian handler directing an operative to assemble a “kill team” to eliminate Trump while he was campaigning in the 2024 presidential election.
Authorities say the operative recruited two men based in the United States who were expected to carry out the attack. Both individuals were eventually arrested before any attempt could be executed.
These allegations emerged through federal investigations and prosecutions handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice.
Why Iran allegedly targeted Trump
Investigators believe the alleged plots were motivated by Iran’s desire to retaliate for the US strike that killed Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.
The killing took place during a US drone strike ordered by Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport. Soleimani was the commander of Iran’s powerful Quds Force within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Following his death, Iranian leaders repeatedly vowed revenge against American officials responsible for the strike.
Security experts say Tehran has historically used proxy networks, intelligence operatives, and covert assets abroad to pursue retaliation strategies.
Some analysts argue that the alleged plots reflect the long-running policy of seeking revenge for Soleimani’s killing.
What was the “7-day assassination plot”?
One of the most striking details in the investigation involves a plan that reportedly gave conspirators just seven days to develop an assassination strategy against Trump.
According to US prosecutors, Farhad Shakeri, a 51-year-old man described as an Iranian asset, was allegedly directed by officials connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Court filings say Shakeri was instructed to organize a plan to assassinate Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign.
Investigators claim Shakeri told the IRGC contact that killing Trump would require significant funding.
The response from the alleged handler was blunt, according to court documents: money was not an issue because the Iranian government had already invested heavily in similar operations.
Why the timeline mattered
Prosecutors say the alleged handler gave Shakeri a strict deadline to deliver a workable plan within seven days.
If the plan was not ready within that period, the operation would reportedly be postponed until after the election. Investigators say the reasoning was that Trump might lose the election, which could make him a less protected target afterward.
According to investigators, Shakeri later told the Federal Bureau of Investigation that he never provided such a plan before the deadline expired.
Who were the alleged operatives?
Authorities say Shakeri recruited two individuals from New York to assist in the operation.
The men were identified in court documents as Carlisle Rivera, also known as Pop, and Jonathon Loadholt.
Prosecutors alleged the two men were expected to help carry out the assassination plan once it was finalized.
Rivera has already been sentenced to 15 years in prison, while Loadholt is expected to be sentenced later.
Shakeri himself remained in Iran and was tried in absentia.
According to statements cited by US officials, Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, said last week that Shakeri had been tracked down and killed by US forces.
Another plot involving a Pakistani national
A second alleged scheme involved Asif Raza Merchant, a Pakistani national who US prosecutors say attempted to recruit hitmen for an assassination plot targeting American officials.
Merchant was arrested in 2024 and later convicted on charges related to terrorism and murder-for-hire.
During the trial, he testified that he believed cooperating with the plot would protect his family in Tehran from pressure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Investigators said Merchant was not assigned a single target. Instead, the Iranian contact allegedly mentioned several potential victims.
The list reportedly included:
• Donald Trump
• Joe Biden
• Nikki Haley
Merchant told the court that he believed authorities would stop the plot before anyone was harmed.
He now faces the possibility of life imprisonment after being convicted of transnational terrorism charges.
What role does the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps play?
Much of the investigation centers on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful military and intelligence organization within Iran’s political system.
The IRGC controls significant parts of Iran’s military operations and oversees the Quds Force, which conducts foreign operations and maintains networks across the Middle East.
Western intelligence agencies have long accused the IRGC of organizing covert activities abroad, including surveillance operations and alleged assassination plots.
Iranian officials have consistently denied involvement in such operations.
Why the alleged plots matter now
The renewed focus on these cases comes at a time when tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran are rapidly escalating.
Security experts say the allegations underscore the deep hostility that has existed between Washington and Tehran since the killing of Qassem Soleimani.
They also highlight the security risks faced by current and former US officials tied to major foreign policy decisions.
While the plots described in court filings were ultimately disrupted, investigators say they illustrate how geopolitical rivalries can spill into covert operations far from the battlefield.
TL;DR
US investigators say two separate assassination plots in 2024 targeted Donald Trump and were allegedly linked to Iran. One plan reportedly gave operatives just seven days to prepare an attack under direction from figures connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Authorities arrested multiple suspects, including Asif Raza Merchant, while others were prosecuted or remain abroad. Investigators believe the alleged plots were motivated by retaliation for the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani.