The FBI has reportedly issued a warning that an Iranian assassin associated with the assassination targets placed on current and former public officials is currently on the loose. According to the report, this assassin was known for specifically targeting the officials involved with the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Iranian Assassin Is Reportedly An Intelligence Officer
The FBI field office based on Miami issued an official statement regarding the wanted assassin on Friday. According to the FBI, the man in question (Majid Dastjani Farahani) also serves as an Iranian intelligence officer.
The statement revealed that Farahani is currently “wanted for questioning in connection with the recruitment of individuals for various operations in the United States.” The FBI further explained that those operations included the “lethal targeting” of past and present U.S. government officials.
‘Lethal Targeting’ Conducted To Avenge Killing Of Qasem Soleimani
Further reports claim that the “lethal targeting” of these U.S. government officials is a vengeful response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was a military officer that served within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (also referred to as “IRGC”).
Soleimani first joined the IRGC in 1979 at the age of 22 after the Iranian Revolution, which was when Ayatollah Khomeini assumed a position of power. Even with minimal training, he reportedly advanced through the ranks quickly.
Trump Reportedly Authorized Killing Of Soleimani In Summer Of 2019
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly authorized the assassination of General Soleimani in the summer of 2019. Multiple reports confirm that his authorization was contingent on the killing of an American due to the increase in Iranian aggression.
Officials reportedly told NBC that former security adviser John Bolton encouraged Trump to focus on retaliating against Iran after the country shot down a U.S. drone earlier that year. It was also alleged that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo supported the retaliatory approach as well.
Soleimani Assassinated by Drone Strike Near Baghdad Airport
Qasem Soleimani was reportedly assassinated on January 3, 2020 close to the Baghdad International Airport. A U.S. drone strike killed him as he was about to travel to see the Iraqi Prime Minister.
A ring that Soleimani wore on his finger was reportedly the evidence used to identify his body. He received the posthumous promotion to Lieutenant General and was viewed as a martyr by a former IRGC commander and the speaker from the Iranian parliament.
Iranian President Blamed Donald Trump, Mike Pompeo For Soleimani Assassination
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi presented a speech in 2022 in which he blamed former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former U.S. President Donald Trump for the assassination of Soleimani. He did not hesitate to name them and announce a possible revenge plot during his speech.
According to Raisi, if Pompeo and Trump were “not tried in a fair court for the criminal act,” then “Muslims will take our martyr’s revenge.” He specifically labeled Trump as “the aggressor, murderer, and main culprit” who “must be tried and judged” according to the Islamic law of retribution and “God’s ruling.”
IRGC Member Indicted For Alleged Revenge Plot In 2022
Shahram Poursafi, another member of the IRGC, was reportedly indicted for an alleged revenge plot in 2022 to kill John Bolton. Poursafi, who also went by the name “Mehdi Rezayi,” reportedly “tried to hatch a brazen plot” to kill Bolton as a retaliation for the killing of Soleimani.
Reports confirm that Poursafi allegedly attempted to pay a fee of $300,000 for carrying out the murder. The locations desired for the murder attempt were reportedly Maryland or Washington, DC.
Farahani ‘Recruited Individuals For Surveillance Activities‘
The FBI confirmed that Majid Dastjani Farahani “recruited individuals for surveillance activities” that reportedly focused on various businesses, religious sites, and other U.S. facilities. The bureau also added that he purported to act or acted on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) either “directly or indirectly.”
The MOIS was established to offer protection to the Islamic Revolution of Iran. According to its official profile, it uses such methods as domestic threat monitoring, internal opposition infiltration, and the arresting and detention of alleged dissidents and spies.
President Biden Notified Congress Of Syria, Iraq Drone Strikes
President Joe Biden provided notification to Congress in early February that U.S. strikes targeted Iran-supported groups in Syria and Ira. These strikes were in response to the three U.S. service members killed by a drone strike located at a Jordan military base.
The Associated Press reported that the U.S.-authorized strikes hit more than 85 targets within a matter of days. Biden wrote a letter to several politicians – including House Speaker Mike Johnson – to inform them that “United States forces have conducted discrete strikes against facilities in Syria and Iraq” that were specifically used by militia groups affiliated with the IRGC.
Biden Used His ‘Constitutional Authority As Commander In Chief’ To Order Strikes
President Biden made it clear that he uses his “constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive” to order the various strikes referenced in his letter. He was reportedly acting in accordance with the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq along with the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force.
Biden added that he provided the report to align with his efforts of keeping “the Congress fully informed” and remain “consistent with the War Powers Resolution.” He also expressed his appreciation for the support offered by Congress in the referenced actions.
Farahani’s Plot Reportedly Focuses On Trump-Era Officials
One outlet, Semafor, reports that the assassination plot created by Farahani specifically targets Trump-era officials including Brian Hook and Mike Pompeo. Hook worked as the special envoy for Iran during the Trump Administration.
Without naming the specific U.S. officials involved, Semafor reported that both men were provided with 24/7 security as a result of the nature of the threat. Farahani was described as a 41-year-old that speaks four languages – including French, Spanish, English, and Farsi.
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