He later asked if the informant could hire a person to "eliminate someone," who was later revealed to be Bolton, and promised protection for the CHS and the assassin, prosecutors say. Poursafi also allegedly suggested the murder should be done "by car," provided the CHS with an address for Bolton's office, and noted that Bolton had a habit of taking walks alone.

In November 2021, the informant traveled to Washington, DC, and sent Poursafi photos of Bolton's office and descriptions of the building. Poursafi allegedly said that the killing should happen in the building's garage, as it was a "high traffic" area.

 

Poursafi has been charged with the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, which carries a 10-year maximum prison sentence, and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot, which carries up to 15 years in prison.

 

In a statement, Bolton thanked the Justice Department, FBI and Secret Service for their efforts.

 

"While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Iran's rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States," Bolton said. "Their radical, anti-American objectives are unchanged; their commitments are worthless; and their global threat is growing."

 

Bolton was Trump's fourth national security adviser for a little over a year, starting in April 2018 until Trump fired him from the role in September 2019 via Twitter for "strongly" disagreeing with "many" of Bolton's suggestions.

 

A hawkish neoconservative, Bolton had previously advocated for regime change in Iran and backed Trump's decision to pull the US out of the multinational Iran nuclear deal.