A Pakistani citizen named Asif Merchant has been arrested in the United States on charges of planning political assassinations, allegedly on behalf of the Iranian government.
The US Department of Justice announced the arrest on Tuesday, detailing Merchant's attempt to hire a hitman for carrying out the attacks.
Merchant arrived in America in April and was wanted as a hitman for the planned assassination, according to US authorities. His family resides in Iran. The plot came to light when Merchant contacted an individual to execute the plan, who then reported it to the FBI.
Despite the allegations, American media reported that Merchant was not proven to be connected to the attack on former President Donald Trump. However, his arrest on July 12, while attempting to leave the country, led to increased security for Trump and other political leaders.
The Justice Department’s statement revealed that the plot was disrupted before any targets were harmed. Although court documents do not specify the intended victims, the case was unsealed just weeks after US officials increased security around Trump due to threats from Iran.
This followed an incident in Pennsylvania where Trump was injured by a gunman, unrelated to the Iranian threat.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the US government's commitment to preventing and punishing such threats, stating, "The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America’s national security."
US officials have long warned of Iran's intentions to avenge the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander, by a strike ordered by Trump. This recent case highlights the ongoing threats posed by Iran's efforts to retaliate against US actions.
