November 11, 2024

The US Department of Justice announced on Saturday that Farshad Shakeri, a notorious hitman with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who is accused of receiving the contract to assassinate US President Donald Trump, was assigned to carry out the attacks on Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka in Arugam Bay.

According to a press release from the US Department of Justice, Shakeri, who is accused of having ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is part of a broader international conspiracy orchestrated by Iranian officials to silence critics of the force.

Shakeri was given a $300,000 contract to kill Trump.

The Justice Department says Shakeri's conspiracy demonstrates that Iran is directing other individuals and criminal networks to operate abroad.

According to the statement, Farshad Shakeri paid a significant amount of money to assassinate Israelis visiting Sri Lanka.

FBI Director Christopher Way, who said the incident highlights Iran's efforts to target opponents of its regime and those it considers hostile, despite international restrictions, said the agency remains vigilant against such threats.

Who is this Farshad Shakeri?
Farshad Shakeri is a 51-year-old man of Afghan descent based in Tehran who was deported from the United States in 2008.

He immigrated to the United States at a young age.

He was deported from the United States in 2008 after being convicted of theft at the age of 20 and serving a 14-year sentence.

In recent months, Shakeri has been involved in leveraging a network of criminal associates he met in US prisons to support Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to the US Department of Justice, he reportedly identified individuals of interest to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and provided operatives with targeted surveillance and assassinations.