On July 12, Pakistani National Asif Merchant, 46, was arrested by the FBI as he prepared to leave the country. His involvement in the Iranian plot to assassinate US government members was fueled by Iran’s Ayatollahs and their fatwa against President Trump and other officials.

When the Trump administration killed IRGC General Soleimani in 2020, it set in motion an Iranian plot to assassinate everyone involved in the decision. The assassination plan included targets like President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, and various others. So far, none of the would-be assassins have been able to complete their task. Asif Merchant was merely the latest person who attempted to recruit hitmen to take care of the “problem.” He was in Iran prior to coming to the United States.

In April of 2024, Merchant contacted a subject he believed would help him recruit the hitmen. The person reported his plan to law enforcement, thereby making the subject a “confidential source”(CS). Over the ensuing months, Merchant was placed in contact with “hitmen” who were actually undercover FBI agents (UC). He advised the undercover agents that this opportunity would be “ongoing” and not a one-time situation.

“Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to “finalize” the plan and leave the United States.

In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies, and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill either the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had departed the United States. 

Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded “yes.” The UC then stated “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded “Yes, absolutely.”  

Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. Merchant has stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan.” US Dept of Justice

The DOJ claims they have no evidence of any connection to would-be assassin Thomas Crooks from the attempt on Trump’s life at the Butler rally on July 13. They also stated that’s why the Trump rally had snipers on the roof at the rally, albeit not as effective as they should have been.

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One interesting aspect is that Merchant wanted to arrange protests at political rallies, likely as distractions so the killing could take place. He also stated that theft of documents for placement on a flash drive was part of the plan. What specific documents he wanted were not delineated in the criminal Complaint.

Iranian plots are like a many-headed Hydra. Having to lop of one head at a time is a difficult task. We hope the rank-and-file agents do their jobs without the agendas of the upper echelon in DC.

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