Trump supposedly the target of a Pakistani attacker

A Pakistani man with ties to Iran has been arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate a U.S. government official in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. The man, identified as Asif Raza Merchant, 46, traveled to the United States in April and began planning the attacks before being apprehended by the FBI on July 12, just as he was preparing to leave the country.

According to the Justice Department, Merchant aimed to hire a hitman to target a U.S. politician or government official. Merchant's alleged plot reportedly involved interactions with individuals posing as contract killers, who were, in fact, undercover FBI agents.

The Justice Department did not disclose the specific targets of the plot. However, CNN reported that potential targets included former President Donald Trump and other former government officials. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the department’s commitment to countering Iranian efforts to retaliate against American officials for Soleimani's death.

Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020. The Iranian government has repeatedly vowed to avenge his death. Garland reiterated that the Justice Department would use all available resources to disrupt and hold accountable those involved in such plots.

FBI Director Christopher Wray noted Merchant's close ties to Iran and characterized the alleged plot as "straight out of the Iranian playbook." Despite speculation, there is no evidence linking Merchant to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

Pakistan's foreign ministry has stated that it is in communication with U.S. authorities regarding the case. Meanwhile, Iran’s mission to the United Nations has denied any involvement or knowledge of the plot, calling it contrary to Iran's policy of pursuing justice for Soleimani through legitimate means.

This case follows a previous charge in August 2022 against Shahram Poursafi, a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, who was accused of attempting to assassinate former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton. Iran has dismissed the allegations against Poursafi as "fiction."