Foiled Plot: Pakistani Man Convicted in Trump Assassination Plan

A Pakistani man linked with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has been found guilty of plotting to assassinate former US President Donald Trump. The motive was revenge for the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, a senior military official of Iran, by US forces.

Asif Raza Merchant, 48, was convicted on charges of murder for hire and attempting an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries by a federal jury in Brooklyn. The US Justice Department revealed that Merchant was dispatched to the United States in 2024 by the IRGC with a mission to recruit hitmen to target Trump and other top US political figures.

Merchant's plan was thwarted when an acquaintance, whom he approached for help, reported his actions to law enforcement. He was arrested in July 2024 after engaging in discussions with undercover FBI agents posing as hitmen. Attorney General Pamela Bondi praised law enforcement's prompt action, calling it a victory in safeguarding US democracy.