Pakistani Man Charged for Alleged Assassination Plot Against US Politicians
Asif Raza Merchant, a Pakistani national, was charged in September 2024 for attempting to hire a contract killer to assassinate US politicians, including Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Merchant testified that he was pressured by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards to carry out the plot to protect his family in Tehran. He claimed he believed he would be caught before any harm occurred. His alleged conspiracy involved arranging protests and laundering money. Merchant was arrested after attempting to hire undercover FBI agents. His trial is ongoing amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, following recent airstrikes that killed Iranian leaders.
Published 1 day ago • 05 Mar 2026, 06:22 PM IST