In a shocking turn of events, Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national with alleged ties to Iran, was arrested last month, and now has been charged with a conspiracy to carry out political assassinations on US soil. Among the potential targets considered by Merchant was former President Donald Trump, according to a source familiar with the matter, as reported by Bloomberg.
Merchant, who arrived in New York in June, allegedly paid a $5,000 advance to purported hitmen and discussed various assassination scenarios. According to the Associated Press, he sketched out his plans on a napkin, highlighting the significant security surrounding the potential target. Merchant intended to finalize the details and name the targets upon his return to Pakistan later this year.
NEW: DOJ announces it has charged a Pakistani national w/ ties to Iran in a plot to assassinate current & former US government officials on US soil in retaliation for the Soleimani killing. DOJ says Asif Merchant flew to the US in April after spending time in Iran, then traveled… pic.twitter.com/Hjp0L90BVT
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 6, 2024
The US Justice Department disclosed that Merchant, 46, allegedly sought to hire a hitman to retaliate for the US killing of Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani. FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the severity of the plot, stating, “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s complaint allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook…A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any US citizen, is a threat to our national security.”
Court documents reveal that Merchant, born in Karachi around 1978, has families in both Iran and Pakistan. His frequent travels to Iran, Syria, and Iraq were noted by the US Justice Department. Upon arriving in the US from Pakistan in April 2024, Merchant allegedly sought out someone he believed could aid in his assassination plots.
In June, Merchant met with an individual who later reported the plan to law enforcement and became a confidential source. During their meeting in New York, Merchant outlined his scheme, making a “finger-gun” gesture to indicate a killing. He mentioned that the plot was not a one-time affair but an ongoing operation, involving multiple criminal activities including document theft, staging protests, and ultimately, assassination.
Merchant’s plans were to carry out the assassination after leaving the US, communicating with the alleged hitman through code words from overseas. The FBI reported that Merchant intended for the hit to occur either in the last week of August or the first week of September.
On June 21, Merchant met with the supposed hitmen, paying them $5,000 to execute his plans. He then arranged to leave the US on July 12 but was apprehended by law enforcement before he could depart.
As the investigation continues, this case underscores the persistent threats posed by international actors to US national security and the ongoing vigilance required to thwart such plots.
