US offers $20m bounty for alleged Iranian assassination plot against John Bolton

The U.S. government has announced on Thursday a $20 million offers for information leading to the capture of Shahram Poursafi, a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Poursafi is accused of masterminding a chilling assassination plot against John Bolton, who served as national security advisor under former President Donald Trump.

Poursafi, also known by aliases Mehdi Rezayi and Shahin Pourbakhsh, allegedly conspired with criminal elements in the U.S. to carry out a murder-for-hire scheme. Reports indicate he offered a staggering $300,000 for the assassination between late 2021 and early 2022. U.S. State Department officials claim he provided “material support and resources” for the plot and even hinted at a second target after Bolton, a vocal critic of Iran’s government.

The scheme unraveled when the would-be assassin turned informant for U.S. authorities. A criminal complaint against Poursafi was unsealed by the Justice Department in August 2022, charging him with multiple offenses. In June 2023, he was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Treasury, a move that blocks any assets he may have within U.S. jurisdiction and bars American citizens from engaging in business with him.

Also Read: UEFA bans Barcelona fans from ticket sales after Nazi-Style banner incident

Poursafi is currently at large outside the U.S., and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Rewards for Justice program through secure channels. If apprehended and convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison and significant fines.

This announcement comes amid heightened concerns regarding former President Trump’s safety. His campaign revealed he has been briefed on “real and specific threats” from Iran, coinciding with reports of two recent assassination attempts against him, allegedly by Americans unlinked to Iran.

As world leaders convene at this week’s UN General Assembly, Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed a desire for his country to “play an effective and constructive role” globally. Although seen as a reformer since taking office in July, the trajectory of U.S.-Iran relations remains uncertain amid decades of tension.

Bolton, who served as a national security advisor from 2018 to 2019, is known for his hawkish stance towards Iran, further complicating the diplomatic landscape as both nations navigate this fraught period.