Explosive Trial: Pakistani Suspect Claims Iran Coerced Him Into Trump Assassination Plot

A Pakistani national, Asif Merchant, told a United States court on Wednesday that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pressured him into a plan to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump and other senior American political figures.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Merchant is facing terrorism and murder-for-hire charges in a case filed by the U.S. Justice Department in 2024. The trial, which began last week, has drawn significant international attention due to its links to major geopolitical tensions.

While testifying, Merchant told the jury he did not join the alleged plot out of loyalty to Iran or personal conviction. Instead, he said he cooperated because he feared for the safety of his family living in Tehran.

According to a report by The New York Times, Merchant said his Iranian contact never explicitly ordered him to kill a specific individual. However, during discussions in Tehran, the handler allegedly mentioned three possible targets.

Those named included Trump, former U.S. President Joe Biden, and former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who failed to secure the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Addressing the court, Merchant said, “I did not want to do this willingly,” a statement his defense team has emphasized as the foundation of their claim that he acted under coercion.

Prosecutors Challenge Coercion Claim

U.S. prosecutors have strongly rejected that argument. In a letter submitted to the presiding judge on Tuesday, the Justice Department said there was “a lack of evidentiary support for a true duress or coercion,” indicating they dispute Merchant’s account.

According to prosecutors, Merchant actively sought to recruit individuals inside the United States to carry out the alleged attack. They argue the plan was part of an IRGC operation aimed at retaliating for the U.S. killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in a 2020 drone strike ordered by Trump during his first term in office.

The IRGC is a powerful force within Iran, overseeing key military operations, controlling large economic interests, and operating intelligence networks that extend beyond the country’s borders. Its alleged involvement has heightened the seriousness with which U.S. authorities are treating the case.

Trial Coincides With Rising U.S.–Iran Tensions

The trial is unfolding amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Proceedings began just days before Trump authorized joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials, an operation that sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran.

In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Trump linked the alleged assassination plot to his decision to approve the strike on Khamenei, saying, “I got him before he got me,” a remark that quickly sparked global reaction.

Iran has consistently denied any involvement in plots targeting Trump or other American officials. Tehran has not issued a new statement addressing the latest developments in the trial.

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