Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Member Charged With Plotting The Assassination Of US National Security Adviser In Donald Trump's Era

John Bolton (right) with Donald Trump. (Wikimedia Commons/The White House)

JAKARTA - The United States charged a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps with plotting to assassinate John Bolton, the US National Security Adviser under Donald Trump, Wednesday.

The Justice Department accused Shahram Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, 45, from Tehran, of possibly being motivated to kill Bolton in retaliation for the death of Qassem Soleimani, a commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps who was killed in a US drone strike in January 2020. Reuters August 10.

According to the criminal complaint, Poursafi asked a US citizen, identified only as 'Individual A', to take photos of Bolton, arguing the photos were needed for an upcoming book.

The US resident then introduced Poursafi to a secret informant, who could take photos for a fee.

The following month, investigators said Poursafi contacted the informant via an encrypted messaging app, and offered the person $250,000 to hire someone to "kill" Bolton, an amount that would later be negotiated up to $300,000.

In a statement on Twitter on Wednesday, Bolton thanked the Justice Department for taking action.

"Although much cannot be said openly at this time, one thing cannot be denied. Iran's rulers are liars, terrorists and enemies of the United States," he said.