A Pakistani national with alleged ties to Iran pleaded not guilty in a Brooklyn federal court on Monday to charges connected with a plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Asif Raza Merchant, 46, is accused of orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme targeting high-profile U.S. politicians, including Trump, in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Federal prosecutors allege that Merchant arrived in the U.S. from Pakistan in April 2024, following a stint in Iran, and sought to hire hitmen to carry out the plot. The hitmen, however, were undercover FBI agents who reported his actions, leading to his arrest in July. According to court documents, Merchant offered the agents $5,000 to kill a "politician, military person, or bureaucrat" and outlined several criminal schemes, including protests and theft of sensitive documents.
#FBI New York JTTF Special Agent in Charge Rob Kissane's statement on the arrest of Pakastani National charged with allegedly plotting an attack in New York City. pic.twitter.com/p3M4JbBvTG
— FBI New York (@NewYorkFBI) September 6, 2024
This case is part of what U.S. law enforcement officials describe as a larger pattern of Iranian-backed efforts to target American public officials in response to Soleimani's assassination. FBI Director Christopher Wray called the alleged plot "straight out of the Iranian regime's playbook," highlighting the national security threat posed by foreign-directed plots against U.S. citizens.
Merchant’s plan unraveled when he met with the undercover agents in New York City to finalize the details. He allegedly told them the assassination would occur after his departure from the U.S., intending to direct the operation from overseas through coded messages. His next court appearance is scheduled for November.
The Pakastani Taliban, known as the TTP, has been launching attacks into Pakistan from Afghanistan. Sources inside the Pakistani government say Pakistan has started retaliating against the TTP by launching operations in Afghanistan at the urging of China. 2500 Chinese citizens… pic.twitter.com/HYuDlrlEmt
— Let's Get Right (@johnnyB671188) July 2, 2024
The murder-for-hire charges against Merchant are part of broader concerns about Iran's retaliatory actions following Soleimani's death. Attorney General Merrick Garland stressed the seriousness of the case, asserting that the Department of Justice will continue to disrupt any foreign attempts to endanger U.S. national security.
If convicted, Merchant faces life in prison for the charges, which include terrorism-related offenses and attempted murder-for-hire. This case highlights the ongoing threat posed by Iran-linked plots, particularly in light of increasing tensions between the U.S. and Iran over regional security issues.
Merchant's defense team has yet to release a public statement, and the Iranian government has denied any involvement in the plot, stating that such actions would be contrary to their policy of pursuing Soleimani’s killers through legal channels.
However, U.S. officials remain adamant about the gravity of the threat posed by these foreign-directed assassination attempts.
