A 47-year-old Pakistani national, Asif Raza Merchant, has revealed to a US court the reason he embarked on a plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley. Merchant alleged he was pressured by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to carry out the plan.
Testifying in court on Wednesday, Merchant stated he became involved in the scheme because members of the Iranian security force threatened his family, who were living in Tehran. Merchant, who was charged in September 2024 for allegedly trying to hire a hitman to kill unnamed US political figures, expressed his fear for the safety of his wife and adopted daughter. He believed the threats against them were serious.
Merchant insisted that he “never intended for anyone to actually be killed” and believed the operation would collapse before reaching that stage. Speaking through an Urdu interpreter, he told the court, “My family was under threat, and I had to do this. I was not wanting to do this so willingly.”
According to reports presented in court, Merchant claimed his Iranian contact mentioned three possible targets during their conversations: Donald Trump, former US President Joe Biden, and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley.
Investigators stated that Merchant attempted to hire hitmen to carry out the killings. However, the individuals he contacted turned out to be undercover FBI agents, leading to his arrest before the alleged plot could move forward.
