The FBI is intensifying steps to locate Iranian agents suspected of targeting current and former American officials in retaliation for the killing of an Iranian general. They are seeking any information on the agents' whereabouts as the expenses of safeguarding these officials rise.
The FBI Miami office posted on social media platform X that Majid Dastjani Farahani, an Iranian intelligence officer, is being sought for questioning about recruiting individuals for operations in the US, including targeting current/former USG officials, as per Fox News.
FBI Seeks Iranian Spy Plotted to Kill Us Officials
MIAMI - JUNE 23: The FBI building that was allegedly one of the targets of a group of seven individuals, who were arrested yesterday, is seen June 23, 2006 in Miami, Florida. According to reports, the suspected terror group also wanted to target the Sears tower in Chicago.
The FBI has issued a notice seeking Majid Dastjani Farahani for questioning regarding his alleged role in recruiting individuals for various operations within the United States. Mr. Farahani is suspected to have acted on behalf of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence, and his activities include recruiting allies for surveillance operations focused on religious sites, businesses, and other facilities in the US.
The notice from the FBI, released on Friday, highlights the importance of the scenario and serves as a further escalation in the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. In December 2023, Mr. Farahani, along with another alleged intelligence official, faced sanctions from the US Treasury.
Mr. Farahani, who reportedly travels between Iran and Venezuela, is now wanted for questioning regarding activities that extend beyond the Iranian borders. The FBI's statement indicates a focus on operations within the US and raises concerns about potential threats to national security.
Following the US drone attack in January 2020 that led to the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, this change has emerged. The death of Soleimani turned tensions between the two countries, as Iran provided retaliation for the assassination of a prominent figure considered the second most powerful person in the nation at that time, according to BBC News.
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Iran Threatens Revenge After Trump's Strike on Soleimani
Soleimani led the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps specializing in unconventional warfare and military intelligence. The force operates outside Iran and provides support to various groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen. The US designates the Quds Force as a terrorist organization.
Former President Donald Trump justified the drone strike by asserting that Soleimani was directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions of people. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded by warning of "severe revenge" against those involved in the attack.
As a consequence of the threats emanating from Iran, the US government has implemented security measures for key figures, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Brian Hook, Trump's special envoy for Iran. These security measures remain in effect under President Joe Biden's administration.
The FBI's investigation into Mr. Farahani indicates continued secretive operations with global consequences and clarifies the intricate network of connections between the countries. The international community closely monitors the US investigation into Iran's suspected engagement in activities outside its borders, Independent reported.
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