Pakistani man convicted in Iran-backed plot to assassinate Trump and US officialsassassinate Trump and US officials
A Pakistani national named Asif Merchant was convicted in a US federal court of plotting to hire hitmen to kill President Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley. The scheme, linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, aimed to retaliate for the 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. US authorities foiled the 2024 plot, which involved Merchant's travels from Pakistan to Iran and recruitment attempts in the United States. This case underscores ongoing Iranian threats against American leaders amid heightened US-Iran tensions.
- Qassem Soleimani led Iran's covert operations across the Middle East for decades.
- Asif Merchant entered the US on immigration parole before his arrest.
- Iran's IRGC is designated a terrorist organization by the United States.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
