Man Gets 15 Years for Plot to Kill Iranian American Journalist

A federal judge in New York has sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for plotting to assassinate Iranian American journalist and human rights advocate Masih Alinejad, calling the case a stark example of foreign-backed threats targeting U.S. citizens inside the United States.

According to prosecutors, the plot was carried out on behalf of Iran and involved plans to kill Alinejad at her Brooklyn residence in 2024. The judge described written communications related to the plot as “chilling,” saying they caused lasting harm not only to Alinejad but also to her family.

During the sentencing hearing, Alinejad detailed how repeated threats and assassination attempts have forced her and her husband to frequently change homes and limit their interactions with their children.

Alinejad, who left Iran in 2009 following the country’s presidential election, has since become a prominent critic of Iran’s leadership. She is widely known for campaigns encouraging Iranian women to defy compulsory headscarf laws and for her reporting on human rights abuses. She became a U.S. citizen in 2019.

U.S. officials have previously linked Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to multiple plots against Alinejad, including earlier kidnapping attempts. Authorities say the case underscores broader concerns about foreign governments attempting to silence dissidents abroad, even within U.S. borders.

The sentencing marks the conclusion of one chapter in a long-running security saga surrounding Alinejad, while also reinforcing warnings from law enforcement about the reach of international political violence beyond national borders.