At least two Iranians in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), an Iranian state-sponsored terrorist organization, have been plotting to assassinate former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, according to a new report.
A Justice Department official with direct knowledge of the investigation told the Washington Examiner that Democrat President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice “possesses indictable evidence against the Iranians but that the Biden administration officials are resisting publicly indicting the men for fear that it could derail their drive for a nuclear deal with Iran, currently nearing completion in negotiations in Vienna, Austria… It is possible but unlikely that there are sealed indictments against the men, but the DOJ source said the seriousness of the conspiracy and the evidence warranted public indictment without delay. Sealed indictments would be unusual and probably unnecessary in this case, as they are usually used to prevent the target evading justice.”
According to the report, “the DOJ source described it in highly specific terms as supported by significant Revolutionary Guard reconnaissance activity and involved an effort to recruit an assassin on U.S. soil.”
The report warned that similar “Iranian threats have been made and continue to be made against former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other former Trump administration officials who worked on Iran issues.” Four former government officials with knowledge of the most recent intelligence backdrop confirmed to the Washington Examiner that these threats are “continuing, specific, and highly credible.”
According to the report, the Biden administration’s hesitancy to indict the Iranians plotting to assassinate former Trump administration officials is driven by Biden’s hope “to resume the 2015 [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)] Iran nuclear accord. Former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the accord, and Iran suspended its compliance.”
The Obama-era JCPOA – also called the Iran nuclear deal – was controversial due to its lack of efficacy and Iran using the funds acquired from the United States through the deal – estimated $100 to $150 billion – to fund terrorism in the Middle East.
