Plot to Kidnap Masih Alinejad; Plan by Two American Senators to Impose Sanctions on Iran

Two Democratic and Republican senators have prepared a plan to subject the Islamic Republic to new sanctions due to the “plot to kidnap Masih Alinejad.” They say this bipartisan plan could prevent any other kidnappings on American soil.

Senator Pat Toomey from the Republican Party and Senator Ben Cardin from the Democratic Party have been the sponsors of a plan to combat kidnapping on U.S. soil.

The two on Thursday, December 11 (December 2nd) introduced their plan at a press conference in the presence of Masih Alinejad, journalist and activist. According to the draft of this plan, new sanctions against Iran will be imposed due to the “kidnapping plot” against Ms. Alinejad.

Senators Toomey and Cardin emphasized at the aforementioned conference that their plan seeks to hold Iran accountable for the plot to kidnap Alinejad, and this helps prevent any other kidnapping attempts on U.S. soil by foreign agents.

Ben Cardin from the Democratic Party said at this press conference: “If you dare to come to our country and kidnap an American citizen, then you will see that this action will have serious consequences.”

Both senators reminded that they will take every possible measure to pass this draft so it can be sent to Joe Biden for signature.

Senator Toomey from the Republican Party expressed optimism at the press conference that the plan would become law.

Masih Alinejad, journalist and activist, also wrote in a tweet: “More senators are ready to support this law, and it is time to punish the terrorism of the Islamic Republic and the threats against journalists and activists.”

Alinejad reported about four months ago that the plot to kidnap her by Iranian officials had failed.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced at that time that an attempt by an intelligence team of the Islamic Republic to kidnap Masih Alinejad and transfer her to a third country had failed due to the vigilance of the American federal police. The U.S. Department of Justice identified these individuals as Alireza Shavaroghi Farahani, Mahmoud Khazein, Kia Sadeghi, and Omid Nouri.

All four, who were identified as members of an intelligence network of the Islamic Republic, reside in Iran. It has been reported that this team, led by Alireza Farahani, intended to steal Alinejad from her home in Brooklyn, take her to the shore, and transfer her to Venezuela by speedboat.

In the U.S. Department of Justice statement, it was stated that Islamic Republic officials had hired a private investigator over the past two years to surveil Masih Alinejad.