Charges against Bazghandi and three other Iranians, including murder-for-hire and money laundering, were revealed in an updated indictment.
While the Justice Department did not name the target, Alinejad, a journalist and activist critical of Iran's regime, confirmed she was the intended victim. She condemned the IRGC's involvement, calling it evidence of the regime's efforts to silence critics beyond Iran's borders.
One suspect, Khalid Mehdiyev, had already been arrested near Alinejad's home with a rifle in 2022. The indictment alleges Bazghandi and other Iranian officials hired an Eastern European criminal group to carry out the assassination. Bazghandi and the other suspects remain in Iran.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed to resist any authoritarian regime, including Iran, trying to undermine Americans' rights. Alinejad is known for her strong stance against Iran’s treatment of women and enforcement of mandatory hijab laws.
These new charges come as tensions in the Middle East rise, with U.S. warnings against Iranian aggression and possible Israeli military action against Iran.
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