The US is putting a $20 million bounty on a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard for allegedly conspiring to assassinate a former Trump adviser

ISTANBUL

The United States on Thursday announced a $20 million reward for information leading to the arrest of a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over an alleged assassination plot against John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under then-President Donald Trump USA acted.

Shahram Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi and Shahin Pourbakhsh, is accused of collaborating with criminal elements in the United States to orchestrate a contract killing plan and offering $300,000 for the assassination in late 2021 and early 2022.

According to US State Department officials, Poursafi is said to have provided “material support and resources” for the operation and even specified a second target for the assassin after Bolton, a long-time harsh critic of Iran.

The plot was foiled when the suspected hitman became a confidential source for US authorities.

A criminal complaint against Poursafi was quashed by the Justice Department in August 2022, accusing him of several crimes, including providing “material support and resources” for the assassination attempt.

In June 2023, he was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Treasury Department.

According to the State Department, Poursafi could face up to 25 years in prison and heavy fines if arrested and convicted.

Poursafi remains at large abroad and the State Department encourages anyone with information to contact the Rewards for Justice program through secure channels.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, of which Poursafi is a member, is classified by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

This designation blocks any of Poursafi’s properties under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits American citizens from doing business with him.

The announcement comes amid heightened concerns about the safety of former President Donald Trump. His campaign recently said he had been briefed on “real and specific threats” from Iran. Trump was recently the target of two apparent assassination attempts, both by Americans who had no ties to Iran.

These developments coincide with this week’s meeting of leaders at the UN General Assembly, where Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s new president, expressed his country’s desire to play “an effective and constructive role” on the global stage.

Pezeshkian, who took office in July this year, is seen as a reformer, but it is not known whether his term will lead to an improvement in relations with the US that have been difficult for decades.

During his time as national security adviser in 2018 and 2019, Bolton was considered a “hawk” on Iran.

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