US Justice Department charges Iranian with trying to assassinate John Bolton

CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire | 8/10/2022, 11:05 a.m.
The US Justice Department announced criminal charges Wednesday against a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for allegedly trying …
On August 10, the Justice Department announced charges against a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for allegedly trying to assassinate John Bolton, who is pictured here in July 2021. Mandatory Credit: CNN

Originally Published: 10 AUG 22 11:07 ET

Updated: 10 AUG 22 11:25 ET

By Marshall Cohen and Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN

(CNN) -- The US Justice Department announced criminal charges Wednesday against a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for allegedly trying to orchestrate the assassination of John Bolton, who served in senior national security positions during the Trump and Bush administrations.

The alleged plot was "likely in retaliation" for the January 2020 US air strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Justice Department said.

After the strike, leaders of the terrorist organization vowed "revenge against Americans" for Soleimani's death and publicly lashed out against then-President Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials in his administration.

Prosecutors say Shahram Poursafi, a 45-year-old Iranian national and IRGC member, attempted to pay $300,000 to an individual in the United States to kill Bolton.

This story is breaking and will be updated.

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