US citizen sentenced in Iranian murder-for-hire plot targeting dissident in New York

A former truck driver has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a plot to kill an Iranian-American activist targeted for death by the Iranian government, according to authorities.

Jonathan Loadholt, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracies to stalk and launder money in the plot targeting Masih Alinejad in her Brooklyn home in 2024, the US State Department said.

The FBI foiled the plot before the attack was carried out. Alinejad, a prominent critic of the Iranian regime, told the BBC that she's grateful to the authorities, but she doesn't feel relieved.

"Relief would mean it's over. It's not over," she said. "This is the third time Iran has tried to kill me on American soil."

"Each time they fail, they come back with something new," Alinejad said.

US authorities say while the plot was directed from Iran, the would-be assassins were American citizens who agreed to kill Ms. Alinejad for money.

In January, Carlisle Rivera was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiring to murder Alinejad.

Alinejad, who attended the sentencing for Loadholt in Manhattan federal court, said hearing her name next to the word "murder" more than a dozen times was "too painful".

She said he "stood up and said he didn't even know me and said he just needed the money".

Prior to the attack, he had exchanged text messages shown in court with another person involved in the plot complaining about a late paycheck.

"That's what my life was worth. A casual text message about cash", Alinejad said.

Still, Alinejad said she will not be silenced. "My voice is more powerful than their [Iranian regime's] weapons".