A federal judge in New York has scheduled the trial of three men accused of involvement in an Iranian-backed conspiracy to assassinate former President Donald Trump and an Iranian dissident for March 9, 2026. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman set the date during a pre-trial hearing in Manhattan involving two of the defendants, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, who appeared in court shackled. A third accused man, Farhad Shakeri, remains at large in Tehran.
Iranian Plot Unveiled
Shakeri, an Afghan-born former U.S. resident, is alleged to have been directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to surveil and assassinate Trump in September 2024, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors claim Shakeri told investigators that Iran had already spent "a significant sum of money" on prior efforts to kill Trump and remained committed to funding further attempts. The complaint also details Shakeri's alleged role in a parallel plot to murder Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad, for which he recruited Rivera and Loadholt.
The Tuesday hearing addressed delays caused by a "voluminous" evidence exchange, including data from Google, Apple, and WhatsApp accounts, cell records, and wiretapped calls. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob H. Gutwillig indicated the government may file a Classified Information Procedures Act motion, signaling potential use of sensitive material during the two-week trial. Defense attorneys did not comment publicly.
Broader Threat Landscape
The case reflects escalating tensions tied to Iranian-linked threats against U.S. officials. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, ex-national security adviser John Bolton, and former State Department official Brian Hook have also been named as targets in separate Iranian plots. In July 2024, Asif Merchant, a U.S. citizen with Tehran ties, was charged with paying $5,000 to an undercover agent for a failed hit on American officials. Federal investigators opened their probe into Trump's security after uncovering Iran's alleged hacking of his campaign team's emails, as reported by National Review.
"The targeting of former and current American officials by foreign actors will never be tolerated," a Department of Justice spokesperson said. "We will deploy every legal tool to hold those responsible accountable."