This was shocking to hear, Americans need to pray for everyone’s safety.
A man accused of plotting a deadly attack against President Donald Trump delivered a startling claim in federal court this week, telling jurors he was pressured by Iranian operatives and feared for the safety of his family.
The suspect, Pakistani businessman Asif Merchant, is on trial for allegedly attempting to hire assassins to target several prominent American political leaders in 2024. During testimony Wednesday in a New York courtroom, Merchant claimed he acted under threats from Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to Merchant, the alleged plot was not limited to Trump. He told jurors that then-President Joe Biden and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley were also mentioned as possible targets.
Speaking through an Urdu interpreter, Merchant told the court he believed his family would be harmed if he refused.
“My family was under threat, and I had to do this,” Merchant testified. “I did not want to do this willingly.”
Alleged Iran-Linked Plot
Prosecutors say Merchant was involved in a 2024 assassination-for-hire scheme that federal investigators uncovered during an undercover operation.
According to court documents, Merchant was secretly recorded outlining an attack plan during meetings with individuals he believed were criminal contacts. At one point, investigators say he even sketched out details of the plot on a napkin.
What Merchant did not realize was that the men he was speaking with were undercover FBI agents posing as hired assassins.
Authorities say Merchant offered $5,000 as an initial payment to carry out the killings.
The alleged targets included some of the most recognizable names in American politics.
Suspect Claims Iran Forced His Hand
Merchant testified that a contact tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard originally asked him to recruit people in the United States who would work on Iran’s behalf.
However, he claimed the assignment quickly escalated.
According to his testimony, the handler later asked him to find someone capable of organizing protests, committing theft, laundering money — and possibly arranging a political assassination.
Merchant told jurors the Iranian contact eventually mentioned three names directly:
- Donald Trump
- Joe Biden
- Nikki Haley
The Iranian government has publicly denied any involvement in a plot to assassinate U.S. officials.
FBI Sting Operation Stops Plot
Federal investigators say Merchant continued working on the plan even after U.S. immigration officials questioned him during a stop at Houston’s airport in April 2024.
Authorities said he was searched and questioned about previous trips to Iran.
Despite that encounter, prosecutors say Merchant moved forward with the plan. Investigators claim he:
- Researched locations of Trump campaign rallies
- Discussed potential attacks at political events
- Attempted to recruit hitmen
- Raised $5,000 from a relative as an initial payment
Merchant was eventually arrested while attempting to leave the United States, preventing any possible attack from taking place.
Defense Says He Expected to Be Arrested
Merchant told jurors he never intended for violence to actually occur.
Instead, he claimed he believed authorities would arrest him before any attack could take place and that he planned to cooperate with the U.S. government afterward.
He also testified that he sent false progress reports back to his Iranian handler, hiding messages inside a book that was shipped overseas through intermediaries.
According to Merchant, he hoped cooperation with American authorities might eventually help him obtain legal residency in the United States.
Prosecutors Challenge His Story
Federal prosecutors strongly dispute Merchant’s explanation.
In court filings this week, they noted that Merchant never contacted law enforcement before his arrest and did not initially mention threats against his family when questioned by FBI agents.
Investigators argue that his actions — including raising money and attempting to recruit assassins — suggest he was actively pursuing the plot.
Possible Life Sentence
Merchant was formally indicted in July 2024, and if convicted, he could face life in federal prison.
The case is unfolding during a period of rising tensions between the United States and Iran. President Trump recently launched a major joint military operation with Israel targeting Iranian threats, placing additional attention on allegations involving Iranian influence.
Jurors will now decide whether Merchant was acting under coercion — as he claims — or whether he knowingly participated in a dangerous plot targeting American political leaders.