Pakistan Man Claims Iran Agents Forced Him Into Plot to Kill Trump, Biden

A Pakistani national accused of plotting to assassinate prominent American political figures told a court that Iranian intelligence operatives coerced him into the scheme, according to a report.

Asif Merchant, 47, testified in a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday that he was forced to participate in the alleged plot after threats were made against his family. 

During his testimony, Merchant told the jury that he felt he had no choice but to cooperate. “I had no other options. My family was threatened,” he said.

Prosecutors have charged Merchant with terrorism and murder-for-hire.



According to investigators, the former banker allegedly paid USD 5,000 to two undercover agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who were posing as hired assassins.

 Merchant claimed that in April 2024, an Iranian handler instructed him to travel to the United States to arrange the killing of a political figure. 

While the handler did not initially specify a target, Merchant testified that three names were eventually mentioned — Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley. 

At the time, Trump and Biden were leading candidates in the 2024 US presidential race.