Iranian Charged In Plot To Assassinate Ex-Trump Advisor John Bolton

Topline

The Department of Justice announced charges Wednesday against an Iranian operative who it says plotted to kill former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton, substantiating earlier reports regarding concerns about Bolton’s safety.

Key Facts

Shahram Poursafi, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, a military unit controlled by Iran’s ruling clerics, offered people $300,000 to assassinate Bolton starting last October, according to the Justice Department.

Bolton, who served as ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006 and as national security advisor from 2018 to 2019, has advocated for a hawkish foreign policy toward Iran, including regime change.

The DOJ believes the assassination plot was likely in response to the 2020 death of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a drone strike ordered by former President Donald Trump.

Poursafi allegedly contacted an American to take pictures of Bolton for a book he was working on, who in turn introduced the Iranian to another person that Poursafi asked to “eliminate” Bolton.

That person communicated with Poursafi between October 2021 and April 2022 about the assassination plot, and received $100 in cryptocurrency in April after complaining about not receiving any payment, the Justice Department said.

Poursafi would face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, though the Justice Department noted he is at large abroad and the U.S. has no extradition agreement with Iran.

Surprising Fact

The DOJ’s announcement mentions Poursafi offered $1 million to carry out a second “job” involving an unnamed individual. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served in the Trump Administration alongside Bolton, was informed he was the anonymous target, a source close to Bolton told Axios. The State Department spends $2 million per month on security for Pompeo and former U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, the Associated Press reported in March. The U.S. has warned about attempts by the Iranian regime to assassinate Pompeo and other U.S. officials, according to an intelligence report obtained by Yahoo last month.

Key Background

Forbes reported in January that the Secret Service was keeping watch over Bolton’s home in Washington, D.C., and an anonymous Justice Department official told the Washington Examiner in March that members of the Quds Force attempted to assassinate Bolton. Trump claimed he fired Bolton as national security advisor; Bolton maintains he quit. Bolton’s exit came shortly after a heated argument between the two over the easing of U.S. sanctions against Iran, Bloomberg reported at the time.

Crucial Quote

“While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Iran’s rulers are liars, terrorists and enemies of the United States,” Bolton wrote in a statement on Twitter.

Further Reading

The Secret Service Is Watching Former Ambassador John Bolton’s House (Forbes)

National Security Adviser John Bolton Out—He Says He Quit, Trump Says He Was Fired (Forbes)

Source: Iranian plot had $1M Pompeo bounty (Axios)