The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday night indicted Ruhollah Bazghandi, a senior officer in Iran’s Quds Force, for planning a series of assassinations targeting Israeli civilians, as well as attempting to kill Israelis in Turkey.
Bazghandi, along with three other Iranian nationals, is also charged with plotting to murder an Iranian-American journalist, a vocal critic of the Iranian regime, based in New York.
Bazghandi, the deputy head of Unit 1500 in Iranian intelligence—responsible for counter-espionage—allegedly hired Eastern European criminal organizations to assassinate journalist Masih Alinejad. Alinejad, known for her reports on human rights violations in Iran, was the focus of an assassination plot thwarted by the FBI in coordination with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies, which led to the arrest of several suspects.
According to the Justice Department, Bazghandi was also involved in operations to assassinate Israelis and journalists in Istanbul, Turkey. The indictment reveals a broader campaign by Iran to eliminate Israeli nationals abroad, including on U.S. soil, and silence regime critics. Bazghandi and his co-conspirators are believed to be in Iran under the protection of the regime.
Alinejad, who has been a target of Iranian assassination attempts before, has long been critical of the Iranian government, focusing on human rights abuses, especially against women and minorities. Despite threats to her life, the Brooklyn-based journalist continues her advocacy, receiving strong support from the U.S. government.
“Today’s indictment makes plain that the Iranian regime for years has been behind a violent campaign to stalk, intimidate, and arrange the killing of an American dissident on U.S. soil for bravely speaking up for the rights of the Iranian people,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
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Weapons and ammunition found with members of cell that attempted to assassinate Alinejad
“The Department is committed to exposing and holding accountable those in Tehran who believe they can hide their hand in carrying out such reprehensible activities.”
This case underscores Iran’s growing threat, particularly through its international operations aimed at eliminating opposition figures. In 2022, Turkish security forces disrupted multiple Iranian-backed terror cells targeting Israelis in Istanbul, further exposing Iran's use of criminal networks to carry out attacks. U.S. officials view Bazghandi’s actions as part of Iran’s broader strategy to intimidate dissidents and Israeli citizens worldwide.
The Justice Department highlighted the seriousness of foreign-led terrorist activities on U.S. soil and pledged to prevent further attempts to harm American citizens. The investigation remains ongoing.
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