9 Explosive Claims: Pakistani Man Says Iran Forced Him into Trump Assassination Plot as FBI stopped alleged attack. A dramatic terrorism trial unfolding in New York has revealed shocking allegations involving an international assassination plot, intelligence operatives, and some of the most powerful political figures in the United States.
At the center of the case is Asif Merchant, a 47-year-old Pakistani businessman accused by the US government of attempting to organize the assassination of prominent American political leaders.
According to prosecutors, Merchant traveled to the United States in 2024 to recruit hitmen who could assassinate political targets including Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and former US ambassador Nikki Haley. Merchant has pleaded not guilty.
During testimony in a federal courtroom in Brooklyn, he delivered a stunning defense:
he claimed he was forced into the plot by Iranian intelligence operatives who threatened his family.
“My family was under threat, and I had to do this,” Merchant told jurors through an Urdu interpreter. “I was not wanting to do this so willingly.”
The trial has drawn global attention not only because of the high-profile political targets involved, but also because prosecutors say the alleged plan bears hallmarks of operations linked to Iran’s powerful paramilitary organization, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
9 Explosive Claims: Pakistani Man Says Iran Forced Him into Trump Assassination Plot
Alleged Plot Tied to Revenge for Soleimani Killing
US prosecutors argue that the assassination plot was linked to Iran’s long-standing desire to retaliate for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the powerful commander of Iran’s Quds Force.
Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike ordered by then-President Donald Trump in January 2020.
The strike dramatically escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran and triggered repeated warnings from US intelligence agencies that Iranian officials might attempt revenge attacks against American leaders.
According to the US Justice Department, Merchant attempted to recruit individuals inside the United States who could carry out assassinations of senior American political figures.
Investigators say the alleged operation was part of a broader strategy by Iran to retaliate for Soleimani’s death.
However, Tehran has consistently denied any involvement in assassination plots targeting US officials.
Merchant Claims He Was Coerced
Merchant’s testimony paints a very different picture from the one presented by prosecutors.
He told jurors that he first became connected to Iranian operatives around 2022 or early 2023 after meeting a man he identified as Mehrdad Yousef, whom he described as a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
According to Merchant, the relationship initially involved financial activities rather than violence. He testified that he helped Iranian contacts move money through informal channels to bypass US sanctions imposed on Iran.
Later, he said, the relationship evolved into something far more dangerous. Merchant told the court that his handler instructed him to travel to the United States in 2024 and arrange for a murder.
“He told me maybe I would need to have somebody murdered,” Merchant said. The alleged handler did not initially specify a particular target.
But during later conversations, Merchant testified, the operative mentioned three possible individuals. Those names were Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley.
At the time, Trump and Biden were leading contenders in the 2024 US presidential election, while Haley had recently suspended her campaign for the Republican nomination.
Prosecutors Say Merchant Tried to Hire Hitmen
Authorities allege Merchant attempted to hire contract killers to carry out the assassination plan.
However, the individuals he believed were professional hitmen turned out to be undercover agents working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Investigators say the case began to unravel when Merchant started discussing his plans with people who were secretly cooperating with US authorities.
Court documents indicate Merchant met two supposed assassins in New York in June 2024. During the meeting, prosecutors say he discussed potential strategies for carrying out the killing.
Hidden cameras captured the conversations as part of the FBI’s surveillance operation. According to prosecutors, Merchant handed the men $5,000 in cash as an advance payment for the assassination.
But the “hitmen” were actually FBI agents posing as contract killers. The alleged plot collapsed before any violence occurred. Merchant was arrested shortly afterward.
A Plan Allegedly Drawn on a Napkin
One of the most unusual details revealed in court involves the way Merchant allegedly outlined the assassination plan.
Prosecutors say he sketched parts of the operation on a napkin during a meeting with someone he believed to be a co-conspirator.
The meeting reportedly took place in a New York establishment where Merchant described his vision for how the assassination could take place.
According to investigators, he suggested the attack might occur at a political rally.
Authorities believe he was referring to Donald Trump, who frequently held large campaign rallies during the 2024 election season.
During one recorded conversation played for the jury, Merchant allegedly said:
“This is the target. How will it die?”
Prosecutors argue the recordings demonstrate clear intent to organize an assassination.
Defendant Claims He Expected to Be Arrested
Merchant told jurors he never believed the plot would actually succeed. In his testimony, he said he expected authorities to arrest him before any attack could occur.
“I had a feeling that there would come a time when I would be found out and arrested,” he said.
He also acknowledged that the $5,000 he allegedly offered the supposed hitmen was far too little for an assassination.
“I was aware that nobody does anybody’s murder for that amount,” he told the court.
Merchant claimed he had planned to reveal the plot to US authorities eventually. He even suggested he hoped cooperating with the government might help him obtain legal status in the United States.
“I was going to tell the government,” he said. “I wanted to apply for a green card.”
Prosecutors Reject the Coercion Claim
US prosecutors have strongly rejected Merchant’s argument that he was forced into the scheme. In court filings, they said there is no evidence supporting a genuine claim of coercion or duress.
Government lawyers argue that Merchant voluntarily engaged in the planning process and never attempted to contact law enforcement before his arrest.
They say the evidence, including recorded conversations and surveillance footage, shows deliberate efforts to recruit assassins and carry out a murder plot.
Assistant US Attorney Nina Gupta pressed Merchant during cross-examination about his actions.
“You traveled to the United States for the purpose of hiring Mafia members to kill a politician, correct?” she asked.
“That’s right,” Merchant replied.
A Life Before the Alleged Plot
Merchant described himself as a businessman with a complicated background.
Before becoming involved in the alleged conspiracy, he said he had spent nearly two decades working in the banking industry in Pakistan.
After leaving banking, he launched several businesses. These ventures included clothing trading, car sales, insulation imports, and banana exports.
According to Merchant, his banana export business eventually collapsed, leaving him in financial difficulty.
He also revealed that he has two families — one in Pakistan and another in Iran. Merchant said his Iranian family became the leverage that intelligence operatives used against him.
He told jurors he feared harm would come to them if he refused to cooperate.
Threats Against His Family
Merchant testified that the Iranian operative he identified as his handler used intimidation tactics. He said the man appeared near his residence in Iran during meetings and displayed a weapon.
According to Merchant, the handler made it clear that he knew the identities and locations of Merchant’s relatives.
“My family was under threat,” Merchant told the court. “I had no other option.”
However, prosecutors noted that Merchant did not provide clear evidence of direct threats against specific family members.
Surveillance and Undercover Operations
Investigators said the FBI had already been monitoring Merchant’s activities before his arrest.
According to testimony from federal agents, Merchant had conversations with informants who alerted authorities to the alleged plan.
The bureau launched an undercover operation in which agents posed as criminals willing to carry out assassinations.
During one meeting in a motel in Queens, hidden cameras captured Merchant discussing a plan to kill a US politician.
Authorities say the conversation included references to shooting the target at a public rally. Merchant was later recorded handing over the $5,000 payment to the supposed assassins.
Shortly afterward, federal agents moved in and arrested him.
Arrest and Charges
Merchant was arrested in July 2024.
He was charged with multiple offenses, including terrorism and murder-for-hire conspiracy. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
At the time of his indictment, then-FBI Director Christopher Wray described the alleged scheme as following tactics commonly associated with Iranian intelligence operations.
Trial Unfolds Amid Rising US-Iran Tensions
The trial comes at a time of renewed geopolitical tension between Washington and Tehran. The situation escalated dramatically after Donald Trump ordered military strikes against Iran in a joint operation with Israel.
The campaign reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s long-time Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Speaking to reporters about the strike, Trump referenced the alleged assassination plot.
“I got him before he got me,” the president said.
The remark underscored the broader political and military conflict shaping the background of Merchant’s trial.
Iran Denies Assassination Allegations
Iranian officials have repeatedly denied accusations that the country targeted US leaders for assassination. Tehran has dismissed such claims as politically motivated and lacking evidence.
The Iranian government has also rejected allegations linking the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to international assassination attempts.
Nonetheless, US intelligence agencies have warned for years that Iran might attempt retaliatory attacks against officials involved in the killing of Qassem Soleimani.
A Case With Global Implications
Legal experts say the case could have significant implications for international relations and national security.
If prosecutors succeed in proving that a foreign intelligence organization directed the assassination attempt, the trial could deepen tensions between the United States and Iran.
At the same time, Merchant’s defense strategy — claiming coercion by foreign operatives — raises complex legal questions about responsibility and intent.
What Happens Next
The trial in Brooklyn federal court is ongoing.
Prosecutors are expected to continue presenting evidence, including recordings, surveillance footage, and testimony from federal agents.
Merchant will face additional cross-examination as government lawyers attempt to challenge his claims. If the jury ultimately finds him guilty, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
For now, the case remains one of the most unusual and politically sensitive terrorism trials in recent US history.
And at its center is a man whose story — whether seen as a coerced pawn or a willing conspirator — has become part of a larger global confrontation involving intelligence agencies, geopolitical rivalries, and the world’s most powerful political leaders.
Also Read: Iran Official Warns Trump Could Be Assassinated by Drone at Mar-a-Lago
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