Iran Revolutionary Guard officer charged in plot to kill American author in US

The Justice Department unsealed an indictment against four Iranian officials Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire targeting Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad. 

Among those charged is Ruhollah Bazghandi, a brigadier general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who previously served as a top counterintelligence official.

The other three Iranians indicted were Fnu Lnu, Hossein Sedighi and Seyed Mohammad Forouzan. All four defendants are based in Iran and remain at large.

“Today’s indictment makes plain that the Iranian regime for years has been behind a violent campaign to stalk, intimidate, and arrange the killing of an American dissident on U.S. soil for bravely speaking up for the rights of the Iranian people,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said in a statement.

“The Department is committed to exposing and holding accountable those in Tehran who believe they can hide their hand in carrying out such reprehensible activities.”

Alinejad fled Iran after covering the country’s controversial presidential election in 2009, seeking safe harbor in New York. 

Authorities allege the IRGC, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, directed the murder plot against Alinejad and was behind multiple attempts to kidnap her. The Justice Department in January 2023 unsealed indictments against members of an Eastern European crime group who were allegedly hired to carry out the plot.

One of the involved suspects was arrested near the victim’s home in July of 2022 with an assault rifle, 66 rounds of ammunition, approximately $1,100 in cash and a black ski mask, according to the Justice Department.

Following his arrest, three additional individuals connected with the murder-for-hire were arrested overseas. One was extradicted to Georgia to face charges there.

“The Justice Department has now charged eight individuals, including an Iranian military official, for their efforts to silence and kill a U.S. citizen because of her criticism of the Iranian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“We will not tolerate efforts by an authoritarian regime like Iran to undermine the fundamental rights guaranteed to every American. Three of the defendants charged in this horrific plot are now in U.S. custody, and we will never stop working to identify, find, and bring to justice all those who endanger the safety of the American people.”