⚠️IMPORTANT THREAD: I had the opportunity to witness history last week. Two men have been convicted of murder-for-hire as part of an Iranian government plot to kill Iranian-American journalist & activist @AlinejadMasih 
Why this is historical: the trial exposed the links between the Iranian regime and organized crime in the West. The Islamic Republic is buying loyalty to carry out assassination attempts.
A mobster, who admitted to trying to kill Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad on US soil in 2022, took the stand exposing the alleged links between Iran’s government and organized crime.
Khalid Mehdiyev said one of the defendants in the Russian mob group, Rafat Amirov confessed to him that Iran's government was behind the plot to murder the Iranian-American journalist.
Jacob Gutwillig, a federal prosecutor said in court this week: "The defendants were hired guns for the government of Iran." READ 👉iranintl.com/en/202503132515
Khalid Mehdiyev said one of the defendants in the Russian mob group, Rafat Amirov confessed to him that Iran's government was behind the plot to murder the Iranian-American journalist.
Jacob Gutwillig, a federal prosecutor said in court this week: "The defendants were hired guns for the government of Iran." READ 👉iranintl.com/en/202503132515
The mother of Khalid Mehdiyev, the gunman who tried to kill Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad, delivered emotional testimony in court identifying her son's alleged co-conspirator Polad Omarov as the man who ordered the hit job.
She, along with her husband and eldest son live and work in the US. They hold a green card thanks to Khaled being a government witness now. READ 👉iranintl.com/en/202503141315
She, along with her husband and eldest son live and work in the US. They hold a green card thanks to Khaled being a government witness now. READ 👉iranintl.com/en/202503141315
The jury found Amirov and Omarov — two ethnic Azerbaijanis and members of the notorious “Thieves-in-Law” criminal gang, which originated in the former Soviet Union — guilty.
Who are Vor Zakone (Thieves-in-Law)? The Russian criminal underworld developed in the gulags or the prisons of the Soviet Union and globalized in the post- Soviet world.
The Vor Zakone evolved into a transnational organization with operations in 15 former Soviet republics and the countries of the former Eastern bloc. Dr. Louise Isobel Shelley, an academic who specializes in terrorism, corruption, and transnational crime testified on behalf of the state as expert in court Friday.
Shelley often consults with governments around the world about the Russian mafia. Shelley said members of the Russian mafia carry out assassinations on behalf of state actors and are also involved in kidnappings, extortion, and money laundering.
Who are Vor Zakone (Thieves-in-Law)? The Russian criminal underworld developed in the gulags or the prisons of the Soviet Union and globalized in the post- Soviet world.
The Vor Zakone evolved into a transnational organization with operations in 15 former Soviet republics and the countries of the former Eastern bloc. Dr. Louise Isobel Shelley, an academic who specializes in terrorism, corruption, and transnational crime testified on behalf of the state as expert in court Friday.
Shelley often consults with governments around the world about the Russian mafia. Shelley said members of the Russian mafia carry out assassinations on behalf of state actors and are also involved in kidnappings, extortion, and money laundering.
The testimony of an FBI agent in Manhattan Federal court reveals Iran’s ties with the mobsters who they allegedly hired to kill dissident Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad.
Supervising special agent Justin Tuerack, who oversees the Iran squad at the bureau, took to the stand Monday, detailing the investigation into digital communications of the suspects.
Tuerack said he analyzed the meta data and IP addresses belonging to the cloud, Whats App, Apple IDs and Google Accounts of defendants Rafat Amirov, Polad Omarov and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ruhollah Bazghandi and members of his Iran-based network - Haj Taher, Hossein Sedighi and Seyed Mohammad Forouzan
READ 👉iranintl.com/en/202503185821
Supervising special agent Justin Tuerack, who oversees the Iran squad at the bureau, took to the stand Monday, detailing the investigation into digital communications of the suspects.
Tuerack said he analyzed the meta data and IP addresses belonging to the cloud, Whats App, Apple IDs and Google Accounts of defendants Rafat Amirov, Polad Omarov and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ruhollah Bazghandi and members of his Iran-based network - Haj Taher, Hossein Sedighi and Seyed Mohammad Forouzan
READ 👉iranintl.com/en/202503185821
After Mehdiyev’s arrest in July 2022, google searches from the IRGC network show the men searching “Rafat the Thief”, testified Tuerack.
Notably, this search occurred before any public knowledge of Amirov’s alleged involvement in the plot, a detail federal prosecutors emphasized.
Google map searches of Alinejad home, the pharmacy she used, photos and google searches of her husband Kambiz Foroohar were also made from the accounts affiliated with the IRGC network.
Notably, this search occurred before any public knowledge of Amirov’s alleged involvement in the plot, a detail federal prosecutors emphasized.
Google map searches of Alinejad home, the pharmacy she used, photos and google searches of her husband Kambiz Foroohar were also made from the accounts affiliated with the IRGC network.
Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad took to the stand in a Manhattan Federal court recounting the chilling moment she came face-to-face with the man who had been sent to kill her.
Khalid Mehdiyev, the man who has now admitted he intended to kill Alinejad at the behest of the Iranian government allegedly, was stalking her house for several days in the summer of 2022 when she saw him.
READ 👉iranintl.com/en/202503197706
Khalid Mehdiyev, the man who has now admitted he intended to kill Alinejad at the behest of the Iranian government allegedly, was stalking her house for several days in the summer of 2022 when she saw him.
READ 👉iranintl.com/en/202503197706
Federal prosecutors also played video of Iran's Supreme Leader clearly referencing @AlinejadMasih and her call to break down the compulsory hijab like the fall of the Berlin wall.
What's important to note was how the US government lawyers were making a connection of the murder-for-hire plot directly to the top of the Islamic Republic. Also important to note that this is NOT Masih's case but rather the US government.
What's important to note was how the US government lawyers were making a connection of the murder-for-hire plot directly to the top of the Islamic Republic. Also important to note that this is NOT Masih's case but rather the US government.
It was also the first time Alinejad took the stand as a witness, facing those accused of plotting her murder. Instead of being dead - she lived to testify.
Alinejad, undeterred, stared down the two men on trial, radiating strength as she testified.
The court also heard testimony from FBI agent Stefanie Roddy from the Executive Inspector Division. Agent Roddy oversaw the foreign transfer of custody of Amirov from an unnamed foreign country.
Roddy revealed evidence obtained from Amirov's transfer which included a residence permit from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian bank currency and an Iranian bank slip.
Alinejad, undeterred, stared down the two men on trial, radiating strength as she testified.
The court also heard testimony from FBI agent Stefanie Roddy from the Executive Inspector Division. Agent Roddy oversaw the foreign transfer of custody of Amirov from an unnamed foreign country.
Roddy revealed evidence obtained from Amirov's transfer which included a residence permit from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian bank currency and an Iranian bank slip.
Reaction after the two mobsters were found guilty on all charges: “Iran's front groups and proxies trying to operate in the US will be investigated, disrupted, and prosecuted,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday in a post on X, following the jury's decision.
Why this all matters:
1) Proves in US court that Iran Behind Murder-for-Hire Plot Against Alinejad
2) Exposes Iran's connections to organized crime
3) Reveals Iran is a persistent perpetrator of transnational repression using a broad range of methods
4) Shows us that justice can be served
1) Proves in US court that Iran Behind Murder-for-Hire Plot Against Alinejad
2) Exposes Iran's connections to organized crime
3) Reveals Iran is a persistent perpetrator of transnational repression using a broad range of methods
4) Shows us that justice can be served
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