A Pakistani man has been charged in the United States for his involvement in a political assassination plot linked to Iran’s anger over the 2020 killing of General Qassem Soleimani.
Asif Merchant, who recently spent time in Iran, was arrested in July after flying to the US from Pakistan. He has been charged with murder for hire in Brooklyn federal court.
According to US prosecutors, Merchant arrived in New York last June with the intention of hiring a hitman to kill a politician or government official. The Department of Justice (DOJ) states this was part of a broader revenge scheme targeting American public figures.
Attorney General Merrick Garland warned about “Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts” to target US officials. Garland emphasized that the Justice Department is actively cracking down on Iran-backed plots aimed at American officials, highlighting the ongoing threats posed by foreign adversaries.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, authorities have found no evidence linking Merchant to the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.
Merchant’s lawyer, Avraham Moskowitz, declined to comment when contacted. The investigation remains ongoing as officials continue to search for other possible conspirators involved in the plot.
Originally published by UKNIP.
