Overview

Shahram Poursafi is a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) wanted by U.S. authorities on suspicion of attempting to assassinate U.S. officials inside the United States. Poursafi is charged with attempting to assassinate Ambassador John Bolton, the former national security adviser under President Donald Trump, likely in retaliation for the January 2020 death of IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. Poursafi is charged with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and with providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot.“Member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 10, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-charged-plot-murder-former-national.

Soleimani was killed on January 3, 2020, in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq.Missy Ryan and Dan Lamothe, “Pentagon launched airstrike that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, Defense Sec. Mark Esper says,” Washington Post, January 2, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/defense-secretary-says-iran-and-its-proxies-may-be-planning-fresh-attacks-on-us-personnel-in-iraq/2020/01/02/53b63f00-2d89-11ea-bcb3-ac6482c4a92f_story.html. Bolton had resigned from the Trump administration in September 2019, before the strike, but praised the operation for eliminating Soleimani.Callie Patteson, “Iranian charged in plot to murder ex-Trump Security Adviser John Bolton,” New York Post, August 10, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/08/10/iranian-shahram-poursafi-charged-in-plot-to-murder-john-bolton/.

According to a U.S. indictment against him, Poursafi sought to arrange for Bolton’s assassination in October 2021 by attempting to pay individuals in the United States $300,000 to carry out the murder in Washington, D.C., or Maryland. In October 2021, Poursafi allegedly approached a U.S. resident to take photographs of Bolton, claiming they were for a book. That resident introduced Poursafi to another individual identified in government documents as a confidential human source (CHS).“Member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 10, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-charged-plot-murder-former-national. Poursafi initiated contact with the CHS in November 2021 and between November and December 2021 they negotiated over the price for the job. They settled on a $300,000 bounty for the CHS to hire somebody to assassinate Bolton, with $50,000 going to the CHS and the rest to the assassin. The CHS also demanded additional money for expenses, some of which were approved and some of which were not.Affidavit In Support of Criminal Complaint, U.S. Department of Justice, August 5, 2022, 10-11, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1525106/download. Poursafi also indicated he had a second assassination assignment that would pay $1 million. Poursafi provided the CHS with Bolton’s work address in Washington and told the CHS it didn’t matter how the murder occurred, but video confirmation was required.“Member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 10, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-charged-plot-murder-former-national; Affidavit In Support of Criminal Complaint, U.S. Department of Justice, August 5, 2022, 8, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1525106/download. Poursafi later told the CHS photographic evidence was no longer required.Affidavit In Support of Criminal Complaint, U.S. Department of Justice, August 5, 2022, 5, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1525106/download.

By January 3, 2022, Poursafi told the CHS he was under pressure from “his people” to complete the operation.“Member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 10, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-charged-plot-murder-former-national. When the CHS inquired how many people were involved, Poursafi said he reports only to one person but there is a chain of command. Poursafi later expressed regret the murder did not happen by the anniversary of Soleimani’s death. He told the CHS he was concerned the operation would be taken away from him if it was not concluded soon.“Member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 10, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-charged-plot-murder-former-national.

On February 1, 2022, Poursafi gave the CHS a two-week deadline to complete the operation or it would be assigned to somebody else. On March 10, he told the CHS he had another assassination job for him in the United States but to keep the Bolton mission “in the back of your mind.”“Member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 10, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-charged-plot-murder-former-national. The CHS did not immediately accept the offer for the second job. The following month, Poursafi encouraged the CHS to accept the second assignment because it would help Poursafi ingratiate himself with his “group” if the operation were successful.“Member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 10, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-charged-plot-murder-former-national. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was allegedly the second target, according to unconfirmed reports.Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, “Second Trump Official Was Targeted in Revenge Execution Plot,” Daily Beast, August 10, 2022, https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-charge-iranian-national-shahram-poursafi-with-plot-to-assassinate-john-bolton. During discussions between Poursafi and the CHS, it comes to light Poursafi is working for the IRGC’s Quds Force. In March 2022, the CHS told Poursafi she/he would have known he was serious if Poursafi had identified himself earlier as a member of the Quds Force.Affidavit In Support of Criminal Complaint, U.S. Department of Justice, August 5, 2022, 24, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1525106/download. In April 2022, Poursafi told the CHS to complete the second assignment. He transferred a payment of $100 to the CHS via a crypto wallet set up by the FBI.Affidavit In Support of Criminal Complaint, U.S. Department of Justice, August 5, 2022, 23, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1525106/download.

On August 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging Poursafi with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and with providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot. If convicted, Poursafi faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000 for the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. He faces up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000 for providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot. Poursafi remains at large abroad.“Member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Charged with Plot to Murder the Former National Security Advisor,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 10, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/member-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-charged-plot-murder-former-national. In response to the indictment, the Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the United States of making baseless accusations.Glenn Thrush and Michael Crowley, “Justice Dept. Charges Iranian in Plot to Kill John Bolton,” New York Times, August 10, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/us/politics/iranian-john-bolton-assassination-charges.html.