WASHINGTON, July 8 — The U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 charged Iranian national Shahram Poursafi with plotting to kill former National Security Advisor John Bolton, offering $300,000 for the assassination.
The charge represents one of several documented Iranian plots against current and former U.S. officials that intelligence agencies have tracked since the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani. According to the filing, Poursafi allegedly sought to recruit individuals inside the United States to carry out the murder of Bolton, who served under President Donald Trump.
U.S. intelligence assessments from 2021 warned of Iranian threats against former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other officials who had served in the Trump administration. The Treasury Department has since sanctioned Iranian intelligence officers for their involvement in these plots.
The Soleimani Aftermath
The timeline of these threats begins with the January 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force. Since that operation, American intelligence agencies have reported multiple Iranian plots targeting U.S. officials. The record shows a pattern of attempted retaliation that has continued across administrations.
Iran has denied these allegations, calling them propaganda. The Iranian government has not provided evidence to support its denials, according to officials familiar with the intelligence assessments.
The Bolton plot stands as the most detailed case to enter the public record. Court documents show Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, communicated with an individual in the United States whom he believed would carry out the assassination. The target was Bolton, who had written extensively about Iran policy during his time in government.
Sanctions and Designations
The Treasury Department has targeted multiple Iranian intelligence officers through sanctions designations. These actions freeze any U.S.-based assets and prohibit American citizens from doing business with the designated individuals. The sanctions serve as both punishment and deterrent, according to Treasury officials.
The 2021 intelligence assessment regarding Pompeo and other officials prompted enhanced security measures. The former secretary of state had been a leading voice in the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran.
Sources familiar with the intelligence reporting say the threats against U.S. officials have remained persistent, with Iranian intelligence services continuing to explore operational options. The Justice Department has made clear that disrupting these plots remains a priority.
Iran’s foreign ministry has dismissed the allegations as baseless, accusing the United States of fabricating threats to justify continued sanctions. The Iranian government has not provided alternative explanations for the documented plots.
What to Watch
The Poursafi case remains active in the U.S. court system. Investigators continue to examine whether additional Iranian operatives were involved in the Bolton plot or other targeting efforts. The Treasury Department is expected to maintain its sanctions regime against Iranian intelligence personnel involved in these operations.
The broader pattern of Iranian plotting against U.S. officials has become a central element in the ongoing confrontation between the two countries. Each new disclosure adds to the record of evidence that American officials cite when describing Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism.
