News Desk
NEW YORK: A Pakistani national has been convicted in the United States for plotting to assassinate several prominent American political figures, including former US president Donald Trump, in a plan allegedly directed by Iran, the US Department of Justice said.
The man, identified as Asif Merchant, was accused of attempting to recruit individuals in the United States in 2024 to carry out assassinations of high-profile politicians. Prosecutors said the alleged plot was aimed at retaliating for the 2020 killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani during the administration of Trump.
According to federal prosecutors, potential targets in the alleged plan included then US president Joe Biden and Republican politician Nikki Haley, who competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
The US Department of Justice said Merchant was found guilty of charges including “murder for hire” and attempting to carry out an act of terrorism across national boundaries. The trial took place in Brooklyn, New York, where proceedings began last week.
During testimony, Merchant admitted that he had become involved in the plot with members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps but claimed he did so under pressure in order to protect his family in Tehran. He also told the court that he was never given a specific order to assassinate a particular individual, though three names were mentioned by an Iranian handler during discussions in the Iranian capital.
Authorities said the plot was foiled before any attack could occur. According to investigators, a person Merchant approached in April 2024 to assist with the plan alerted law enforcement and later became a confidential informant, leading to Merchant’s arrest later that year.
Iran has denied accusations that it was involved in any plan to target Trump or other US officials. Meanwhile, tensions in the region have escalated in recent days following US and Israeli military actions against Iran, contributing to one of the most serious regional conflicts in recent years.
#DonaldTrump #AsifMerchant #USJusticeDepartment #IranTensions #TerrorPlot #USPolitics #QassemSoleimani #MiddleEastCrisis #GlobalSecurity #BreakingNews
