Two Men Sentenced to 25 Years for Plotting to Assassinate Iranian-American Journalist

2025-10-30 politics

Brooklyn, Wednesday, 29 October 2025.
Two Russian nationals received 25-year sentences for conspiring to murder journalist Masih Alinejad in Brooklyn, revealing the Iranian government’s $500,000 assassination bounty and highlighting threats to dissidents.

Plot Unveiled: A Chilling Conspiracy

In a development that has sent shockwaves through the international community, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov were sentenced to 25 years in prison on October 29, 2025, for their roles in an assassination plot against Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad. The two men, described as members of the Russian mob, conspired to execute the plan in Brooklyn, New York, under the direction of Iranian officials who offered $500,000 to silence Alinejad [1][2].

The Target: Masih Alinejad’s Fight for Freedom

Masih Alinejad, an outspoken critic of the Iranian regime and a prominent advocate for women’s rights, has been a thorn in the side of Iran’s hardline leadership for years. Known for her ‘My Stealthy Freedom’ campaign against mandatory head coverings, Alinejad’s influence extends to millions globally, prompting the Iranian regime to target her with lethal intent [3][4]. This plot marks the latest in a series of threats she has faced since fleeing Iran in 2009 [5].

Legal Proceedings: A Judicial Stand Against International Threats

The trial, which concluded in March 2025, revealed the depth of the conspiracy involving high-ranking Iranian officials and Russian mobsters. During the proceedings, it was disclosed that Khalid Mehdiyev, hired by Amirov and Omarov, was tasked with the actual assassination attempt. Mehdiyev, who testified against the pair, detailed how the plot came ‘chillingly near success,’ thwarted only by U.S. law enforcement’s timely intervention [6][7].

Implications for U.S.-Iran Relations

This case has significant implications for U.S.-Iran relations, highlighting the persistent threat posed by the Iranian regime to dissidents abroad. The sentencing underscores a firm U.S. stance against international plots on its soil, as articulated by Judge Colleen McMahon, who condemned the crime as ‘terrible’ and ‘politically motivated.’ Such incidents continue to strain diplomatic ties, raising questions about the safety of expatriates and the broader geopolitical dynamics between the two nations [2][8].

Sources

Iranian dissident assassination plot