Investigators say an Iraqi national tied to Iran-backed militant groups discussed plans to retaliate for the 2020 killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities and regional security sources are investigating allegations that an Iraqi militant linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps discussed plans to assassinate Ivanka Trump and obtained information related to her Florida residence, according to officials and people familiar with the matter.
The allegations surfaced after the recent arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a 32-year-old Iraqi national accused of involvement in multiple attacks and terror plots tied to Iran-backed groups operating across Europe and the Middle East. Sources familiar with the investigation said Al-Saadi allegedly sought revenge for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. Investigators are now reviewing communications, travel records and intelligence reports connected to the alleged threats against members of President Donald Trump’s family.
People briefed on the investigation said Al-Saadi was detained in Turkey earlier this month before being transferred to U.S. custody. Former Iraqi military attaché Entifadh Qanbar said the suspect had repeatedly spoken about targeting Ivanka Trump as retaliation for Soleimani’s death. “We need to kill Ivanka to burn down the house of Trump the way he burned down our house,” Qanbar said Al-Saadi told associates after the strike that killed the Iranian commander. Investigators also reviewed claims that Al-Saadi possessed plans or layout information related to Ivanka Trump’s home in Florida. Authorities have not publicly released evidence supporting that claim, and federal agencies have not disclosed whether any direct operational steps toward an attack had been carried out.
According to investigators and regional analysts, Al-Saadi allegedly maintained ties to both Kata’ib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, organizations long accused by the United States of coordinating militant activity in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. Officials familiar with the case said the suspect traveled internationally using an Iraqi government-issued service passport, a document generally reserved for officials and civil servants. Security experts said that raised additional questions about possible institutional support or access within Iraqi political networks, though Iraqi authorities have not publicly commented on the matter. Federal officials also allege the suspect was connected to plots targeting Jewish institutions in Europe, including reported attacks involving a synagogue in Belgium and a temple in the Netherlands earlier this year.
The alleged threats emerged amid continuing tensions between the United States and Iran-linked militias following the January 2020 airstrike ordered by President Trump that killed Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport. The strike marked one of the most consequential escalations between Washington and Tehran in recent years and triggered repeated warnings from Iranian officials and affiliated militias promising retaliation. U.S. intelligence agencies have since monitored multiple alleged plots connected to Iranian operatives and proxy groups. Several current and former U.S. officials tied to the Soleimani decision have reportedly remained under heightened security protection because of continuing threats. Analysts said the allegations involving Ivanka Trump reflect how family members of political leaders can become symbolic targets in geopolitical conflicts tied to revenge and deterrence.
Investigators are now working to determine whether Al-Saadi acted independently, coordinated with a larger militant network or received direct guidance from Iranian-linked operatives. Authorities have not announced formal charges specifically tied to threats against Ivanka Trump, though officials said the broader terrorism investigation remains active. Court records connected to his detention and extradition proceedings have not yet been fully released publicly. Law enforcement officials are also reviewing electronic communications, financial records and overseas travel histories associated with the suspect’s movements in recent years. The White House has not publicly commented on the reported allegations, and attorneys connected to Al-Saadi have not issued a public response.
People who know the regional militant landscape described Al-Saadi as deeply influenced by Soleimani and other senior Iranian military figures. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a researcher who was previously kidnapped in Iraq by a militia group tied to Kata’ib Hezbollah, said the suspect was considered well connected within Iran-backed networks operating across Iraq and Syria. She said militant organizations aligned with Tehran often treat retaliatory operations as long-term missions that can continue years after a triggering event. Security officials said investigators are examining whether rhetoric posted online by Al-Saadi matched operational planning uncovered during the investigation. Analysts noted that public threats made on social media by extremist figures are sometimes used to build credibility within militant circles, though not every threat progresses into an actionable attack plan.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing as intelligence agencies continue assessing whether additional suspects or facilitators were involved. Officials are expected to review further evidence gathered during the extradition process in the coming weeks. No public court hearing date tied specifically to the alleged assassination threat has yet been announced.
Author note: Last updated May 22, 2026.