Pakistani national Asif Merchant, 46, has been charged in the United States in connection with a foiled assassination plot targeting American officials, which could potentially include former President Donald Trump.
Merchant, who is alleged to have ties to Iran, is accused of conspiring to hire American residents for the plot, reportedly as retaliation for the U.S. killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Merchant has been detained in New York and faces charges of assassination for hire. Although the White House has denied that the plot specifically targeted Donald Trump, some Western media outlets have highlighted this possibility.
Last month, former President Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The attacker was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper. Investigators found no clear ideological motives behind the attack. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following an admission of communication failures that delayed the response.
The Pakistani Foreign Office is in contact with U.S. authorities and is awaiting further details regarding Asif Merchant and the ongoing investigation.
