Pakistani Man Convicted in Iran-Backed Plot to Assassinate US Politicians

Asif Merchant, a Pakistani man with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was convicted on Friday of murder for hire and attempted terrorism for plotting to assassinate US politicians, including former President Donald Trump. The conviction comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, and follows a week-long trial in Brooklyn .

Plot to Target Trump, Biden, and Haley

Merchant, 47, was found guilty of attempting to orchestrate the assassinations of several high-profile American figures. According to the US Department of Justice, the targets included Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley . The plot was reportedly motivated by the 2020 death of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani .

IRGC Involvement and Recruitment Efforts

Prosecutors presented evidence that Merchant was a trained operative of the IRGC and had traveled to the US in April 2024 to identify potential recruits for the organization . He allegedly contacted individuals he believed could assist in the assassination plot and subsequently reported them to the police. Merchant then engaged with undercover US law enforcement officers posing as hitmen in Novel York .

Merchant’s Testimony and Motives

During the trial, Merchant admitted that the IRGC directed him to carry out the assassinations. However, he testified that he joined the plot to protect his family in Tehran . He claimed he was never ordered to kill a specific person, but that his handler provided a list of potential targets during conversations in Iran.

Plot Foiled and Potential Sentencing

Law enforcement officials were able to thwart the plot before any attacks could be carried out, and Merchant was arrested in July 2024. He now faces a potential life sentence . His lawyer indicated that “complex and significant legal issues yet to be decided” remain.

Iran Denies Allegations

The Iranian government has consistently denied any involvement in the assassination plot .