The person at the center of this case
Prominent Iranian dissident (unnamed)
Cold Case · Open
3 years waiting · since 2022
SEYED MOHAMMAD FOROUZAN
Justice for Prominent Iranian dissident (unnamed) — the trail went cold in 2022, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1Where are Seyed Mohammad Forouzan, Ruhollah Bazghandi, Hossein Sedighi, and 'Haj Taher' currently located, and what is their operational network across Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey?
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evidence
Lead #2What communications and internet search records exist linking Forouzan directly to the murder-for-hire plot and the Eastern European criminal organization?
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person
Lead #3Who is the prominent Iranian dissident targeted, and are there other dissidents at risk from similar Iranian government-directed plots?
In July 2022, a member of an Eastern European criminal organization was arrested near a prominent Iranian dissident's home in Brooklyn with a loaded assault rifle and ammunition, allegedly tasked with murder-for-hire. Seyed Mohammad Forouzan, Ruhollah Bazghandi, Hossein Sedighi, and an individual known as 'Haj Taher' are accused of directing this plot on behalf of the Iranian government to silence critics of the regime's human rights violations. The suspects remain at large; Forouzan is believed to have ties to Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, making international cooperation critical to their apprehension.
Case
#1005
United States District Court, Southern District of New York; Federal Bureau of Investigation
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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contact
Lead #4How did Forouzan and the other conspirators establish and maintain contact with the Eastern European criminal organization to execute this plot?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Murder-For-Hire; Conspiracy to Commit Murder-For-Hire; Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act Caution: Seyed Mohammad Forouzan and Ruhollah Bazghandi , along with additional co-conspirators Hossein Sedighi and an individual known only as "Haj Taher", are wanted on charges of Murder-For-Hire, Conspiracy to Commit Murder-for-Hire, and Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. These charges relate to the alleged actions by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to target Iranian dissidents.
The regime views these dissidents as enemies of the state because of their criticism of the regime’s human rights violations and their outspoken rhetoric against the Iranian Government. On July 28, 2022, a member of an Eastern European criminal organization, was arrested with a loaded AK-47 style assault rifle and 66 rounds of ammunition near a prominent Iranian dissident’s home in Brooklyn, New York.
High-ranking members in the Eastern European criminal organization allegedly tasked the arrested individual to murder the prominent Iranian dissident. Forouzan, Bazghandi, and the other two men allegedly directed the murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the arrest.
Forouzan is a self-identified member of the Basij, a voluntary auxiliary division of the IRGC. Forouzan allegedly communicated directly with members of the murder-for-hire network about the victim.
Forouzan allegedly conducted internet searches, including image searches, relating to the victim during the murder-for-hire plot and was allegedly in communication with the Eastern European criminal organization during the duration of the plot. In October of 2024, Forouzan, Bazghandi, and the other two men were indicted in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, New York, New York, on the charges listed above and federal warrants were issued for their arrests on October 17, 2024.
Remarks: Forouzan has ties to Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
Timeline of Events
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2022-07-28
Arrest Near Dissident's Home
Member of Eastern European criminal organization arrested with loaded AK-47 style assault rifle and 66 rounds of ammunition near prominent Iranian dissident's home in Brooklyn, New York
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2024-10-17
Federal Indictment and Warrants Issued
Forouzan, Bazghandi, Sedighi, and 'Haj Taher' indicted in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York on charges of Murder-For-Hire, Conspiracy to Commit Murder-For-Hire, and Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; federal warrants issued for arrests
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:July 28, 2022
Last Updated:May 12, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:July 28, 2022
Last Updated:May 12, 2026