Iranian-Backed Terrorist Charged With Plotting 20 Attacks Including Assassination of Ivanka Trump

WASHINGTON — A 32-year-old Iraqi national with deep ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the terrorist group Kata’ib Hezbollah has been charged with involvement in nearly 20 terror attacks and plots across Europe and the United States, including an alleged assassination plot targeting Ivanka Trump.

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi was arrested in Turkey on May 15, 2026, and extradited to the United States, where he is now in federal custody facing multiple terrorism-related charges. Prosecutors say he operated as a key operative for Iran-backed networks and pledged to kill Ivanka Trump in retaliation for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, whom Al-Saadi reportedly viewed as a mentor figure.

According to court filings and sources familiar with the investigation, Al-Saadi obtained architectural plans and detailed information about Ivanka Trump’s $24 million residence on Indian Creek Island in Florida. He allegedly made explicit threats, including posting a map of the Trump-Kushner enclave online with a message warning that “neither your palaces nor the Secret Service will protect you.” The plot was part of a broader campaign of revenge for Soleimani’s death.

Al-Saadi faces six counts of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization (Kata’ib Hezbollah), along with charges related to his alleged role in firebombings, stabbings, and shootings targeting American, Israeli, and Jewish interests. Specific incidents include the March 2026 firebombing of a Bank of New York Mellon branch in Amsterdam, a stabbing attack on two Jewish victims in London, and a shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto. He is also linked to plots in Belgium and other European locations.

The Justice Department described Al-Saadi as a high-ranking figure in Iraq-Iran terror networks with close connections to senior IRGC officials, including Soleimani’s successor, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani. He reportedly used a religious travel agency as cover for coordinating operations.

The Secret Service has significantly increased protection for Ivanka Trump and the extended Trump family in response to the credible threat. Ivanka Trump, who converted to Orthodox Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner, has been a frequent target of criticism from Iran and its proxies.

This case highlights the ongoing threat posed by the IRGC and its international network of operatives. The Trump administration has designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization and continues to apply maximum pressure on Iran through sanctions and military readiness.

The investigation remains active, with federal authorities examining potential broader networks connected to Al-Saadi. No additional arrests tied directly to the Ivanka Trump plot have been announced. Al-Saadi is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.