The FBI has launched an intense manhunt for Majid Dastjani Farahani, an Iranian intelligence officer allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump and other key Trump-era officials. This plot is perceived as retribution for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force.

Background of the Plot

The FBI’s Miami field office recently issued an alert seeking information on Farahani, suspected of recruiting individuals for various operations within the United States. These operations reportedly include surveillance activities and assassination attempts targeting current and former U.S. officials. The primary motivation behind these plans is to avenge Soleimani’s death.

As of this writing, there is no evidence that Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to kill President Trump on Saturday, was influenced in any way by Iran.

Farahani is described as a 41-year-old man with brown and gray hair, brown eyes, and the ability to speak multiple languages, including Farsi, English, Spanish, and French. He is believed to have connections to Iran and Venezuela, making his apprehension more complex.

Specific Targets

The plot focuses explicitly on former President Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook, who served as Trump’s special envoy for Iran. These individuals were instrumental in the administration’s aggressive stance toward Iran, including the decision to carry out the strike on Soleimani. The National Counterterrorism Center has highlighted that since January 2021, Tehran has publicly expressed a willingness to conduct lethal operations within the United States, targeting these high-profile figures.