A Pakistani man, alleged to have connections with Iran, entered a not-guilty plea on Monday. The charges accuse him of plotting to kill an American politician as retaliation for the US killing of Qassem Soleimani, a top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Asif Merchant, 46, faced charges of attempting terrorism across national boundaries and murder for hire during a Brooklyn court session presided over by US Magistrate Judge Robert Levy, who ordered his detention until trial.
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Federal prosecutors claim Merchant spent time in Iran and later attempted to recruit individuals in the US for the plot. They also suspect he planned to steal documents and organize protests in the United States. Although Merchant identified Donald Trump as a potential target, he did not specifically plan to assassinate the former president, disclosed a source requesting anonymity.
Court documents did not specify the intended victims, and no attacks were carried out. As president, Trump had authorized a drone strike on Soleimani in 2020.
There is no evidence linking Merchant to recent threats against Trump, including an incident at his Florida golf course or a shooting at a Republican rally in Pennsylvania.
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During the hearing, defense attorney Avraham Moskowitz raised concerns about Merchant’s jail conditions, noting his client’s isolation and significant weight loss due to the unavailability of a halal diet.
