US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that an Iranian official behind an attempt to assassinate Donald Trump in 2024 has been killed by the US military.
The US president was the subject of two assassination efforts that year while running for the White House, one of which involved a sniper’s bullet grazing his ear.
Here’s what we know about the other alleged plot.
Trump’s revenge on alleged plotter
Mr Hegseth said Mr Trump had the “last laugh” after the US forces killed an unnamed Iranian official who led an effort to assassinate him.
He told reporters during an operational briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday: “Also, yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed.
“Iran tried to kill President Trump and President Trump got the last laugh.”
👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈
The defence secretary said eliminating the author of the alleged plot was not the initial focus of the war “by any stretch of the imagination” and insisted Mr Trump had never made it a priority for the Pentagon.
He said he and others ensured “that those who were responsible for that were eventually part of the target list” but he admitted, as far as the conflict was concerned, “this is not a mission accomplished situation”.
What do we know about the man behind the plot?
In November 2024, the US justice department charged an Iranian man, Farhad Shakeri, 51, over an alleged effort by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to assassinate Mr Trump, then the president-elect.
Pic: Reuters
Merrick Garland, the US attorney general at the time, said in a statement that Shakeri was “an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran’s assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump”.
The justice department says Shakeri told law enforcement he was tasked on 7 October 2024 with providing the IRGC with a plan to kill Mr Trump but he didn’t intend go through with the plan within the timeframe set by the Iranians.
Read more on Sky News:
Spain’s clear ‘no’ to war
Europe finally stands up to Trump
Page 25 of the US Department of Justice’s criminal complaint against Farhad Shakeri. Pic: US DoJ
Two other men, Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, both from New York, were also charged, having allegedly been “recruited as part of that network”.
Shakeri, Rivera, and Loadholt were charged with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and money laundering. Shakeri was also charged with two terror offences and other offences.
Tehran has denied accusations it targeted Mr Trump and other US officials.
Trump ‘got him’ first
Mr Trump referred to the alleged Iranian plot on Sunday when asked about the joint US-Israel operation that killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“I got him before he got me,” he told ABC News.
Source link
Khamrah by Lattafa for Men - 3.4 oz EDP Spray
4% Off
Ghost Sweetheart Eau de Toilette | Pineapple, Jasmine and Sandalwood | Perfume for Women 50 ml
50% Off
Marc Jacobs Dot Eau De Parfum for Women, 100 ml
42% Off
Ted Baker W Eau de Toilette for Her, Fig Leaf, White Peony and Violet Top Notes, Pink Orchid and Raspberry Middle Notes, 75ml
£11.77 (£15.69 / 100 ml) (as of 05/05/2026 03:11 GMT +01:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Ted Baker Woman Pink Eau de Toilette Spray Floral Green Feminine Fragrance, Opening Notes are Fresh Peach, Bergamot and Tangerine with Warm Musk, Vanilla and Vetiver Base, 100ml
11% Off
Vera Wang Princess Eau de Toilette - 30 ml
Choco Musk 50ml Eau De Parfum for men and women | Chocolate Musk by Jannat Aromas
17% Off
Christina Aguilera Signature Eau de Parfum (50ml) Floral, Fruity & Exotic Scent, Luxury Fragrance for Women
9% Off
Calvin Klein - Eau De Toilette CKIN2U - Calvin Klein Women, Ladies Perfume, Women's Perfume, Calvin Klein Perfume, Calvin Klein One - 150 ml
5% Off
Jimmy Choo Flash Eau de Parfum, 60 ml (Pack of 1)
3% Off
Fruit of the Loom Men's Heavy T Shirt, White, XL UK
28% Off
ATNKE LED Lighted Beanie Cap,USB Rechargeable Running Hat Ultra Bright 4 LED Waterproof Light Winter Warm Gifts for Men and Women/Pink
17% Off
Men's 1/4 Zip Pullover UK Sale Clearance, Fleece Sweatshirt Casual Jumper Long Sleeve T-shirt Top Stand Collar Sweater Plain Pullover Sports Leisure Workwear Quarter Zip Sweater Lightweight Jumpers
£5.88 (as of 12/11/2025 00:52 GMT +01:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Crevice Cleaning Brush, Bathroom Tile Groove Gap Cleaning Brush,Premium Crevice Cleaning Tool Aluminum Support with 15° Angle Magic Brush, Thin Brush for Home Kitchen
19% Off
Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth 5.3 Headphones in Ear with HiFi Stereo Deep Bass, 4 ENC Noise Cancelling Mic Wireless Earphones 40H Playtime, Bluetooth Earbuds Dual LED Display, IP7 Waterproof, USB-C
42% Off
