A Pakistani man with alleged ties to Iran has been charged with a plot to carry out political assassinations in the US, as announced by the Justice Department. The suspect, identified as Asif Merchant, faces a charge of murder for hire in New York federal court. The plot is believed to be in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike in 2020.
According to FBI investigators, the intended targets of the plot were former President Donald Trump and other US government officials. Merchant, who spent time in Iran before traveling to the US, approached undercover FBI agents to carry out the assassinations. He was arrested on July 12 as he prepared to leave the country.
The Justice Department condemned the plot as part of Iran’s ongoing efforts to retaliate against US officials. Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed to hold those involved accountable. In a separate incident, IRGC member Shahram Poursafi was charged with plotting to assassinate former US National Security Advisor John Bolton.