Iranian general plotted to kill New York activist, DOJ says

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday charged Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Brig. Gen. Ruhollah Bazghandi with plotting to kill an author in New York city. The general remains at large, the DOJ said. His alleged plots to kill the activist have thus far failed, the DOJ added. The unidentified activist was described in the indictment as a writer, an Iranian-born woman with U.S. citizenship.

The DOJ alleged that Bazghandi and associates from Iran and an criminal named in the indictment tried to kill the activist to silence her criticisms of Tehran. The indictment against Bazghandi and his associates merely outlines allegations. All the defendants should be presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law, the DOJ said. The men were charged in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Who are the defendants and where are they now? The DOJ said in a news release that it had charged eight people, but only seven were named in the indictment. The general and three conspirators from Iran remain at large. Three others charged are alleged to be members of an Eastern European criminal organization that contracted with the Iranian network. Two are in U.S. custody, while a third is being held by the Republic of Georgia.

What did this plot entail? Bazghandi heads up the IRGC’s intelligence wing, according to the DOJ. Since 2022, he has allegedly contracted with various affiliates of Iran’s regime and concocted several plots to kill the activist. That year, federal authorities arrested one member of Bazghandi’s network near the activist’s home. He had an assault rifle, 66 rounds of ammunition, $1,100, and a black ski mask when authorities took him into custody. Authorities arrested several more of his associates overseas early last year.

Despite the arrests, Bazghandi’s network over the course of last year allegedly continued to target the activist, according to the indictment. Various affiliates of the network reportedly conducted Google searches to pull up images and videos depicting the activist’s residence, and to discover information about her family members, the DOJ said.

What exact charges do they face? Bazghandi and all six of his associates face murder-for-hire charges carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. They also face charges of conspiring to commit money laundering. Those charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars.

Bazghandi and the three other Iranians face charges of conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and circumvent sanctions against the Iranian government. Those charges both carry a maximum penalty of 20 years.

The remaining three associates face charges of attempted murder-for-hire in aid of racketeering, which carries a 10-year maximum penalty, and possessing a firearm with the intent to commit murder, which could mean life in prison.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about how the DOJ recently foiled an Iranian agent’s plan to assassinate a U.S. politician.