BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Diya TV) —
A Pakistani national with alleged ties to Iran was arrested last month on charges of plotting to assassinate former President Donald Trump and other public officials, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court.
Asif Merchant, 46, stands accused of attempting to orchestrate a murder-for-hire plot. The complaint, while not explicitly naming Trump, has sources confirming that Trump was among the intended targets.
Merchant’s journey began in Pakistan and took him through Iran before landing in the U.S., where he sought to recruit hitmen for the plot. Unbeknownst to him, the individual he approached was a confidential informant working with the FBI. Merchant is now in federal custody, charged with murder for hire.
According to the indictment, Merchant arrived in New York City in April and quickly began looking for accomplices to carry out his deadly plan. He believed he had found willing participants but was actually dealing with undercover law enforcement officers. He was arrested on July 12, just before he could leave the country, after a meeting with the purported hitmen .
FBI investigators believe they intercepted Merchant’s plot in time to prevent any attacks. In the weeks since his arrest, Merchant has cooperated with authorities. However, the Iranian government’s known threats against Trump led the FBI to share intelligence with the U.S. Secret Service, which has since increased security for the former president.
This case adds to a series of alleged Iranian plans targeting Trump and other U.S. officials, believed to be in retaliation for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a top commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In 2022, federal prosecutors charged an Iranian national with attempting to pay $300,000 for the assassination of former national security adviser John Bolton, citing similar motivations.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that the U.S. will not tolerate foreign attempts to harm its officials and endanger national security. Merchant faces serious charges and potential consequences for his actions. The unsealed documents outline how he sought to employ hitmen, with plans extending beyond a single attack to include stealing documents and inciting political protests.
Government officials confirm there are now increased security measures for former President Trump and other potential targets in place.
