Hitman Admits Attempt on Iranian Journalist Alinejad

In a New York federal court, Khalid Mehdiyev, a self-professed member of a Russian organized crime group, admitted to attempting to assassinate Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad in July 2022, revealing that he was hired by associates Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov under orders from Iran's government, which allegedly offered $500,000 for the hit. Mehdiyev testified that he conducted a week-long stakeout of Alinejad, tracking her daily activities before being apprehended with an AK-47 and a ski mask. Prosecutors argue that the case underscores Iran's efforts to silence dissenting voices, while the defense claims the prosecution relies on circumstantial evidence and Mehdiyev's questionable credibility. The trial, which marks the first instance of Iranian agents being tried on U.S. soil, has raised significant questions regarding organized crime's intersection with political motives. If convicted, Amirov and Omarov could face decades in prison for their alleged roles in the murder-for-hire plot. The Iranian government has not commented on the proceedings, leaving further speculation about its involvement in targeting critics abroad.