A federal court in New York City convicts an Iranian agent of attempting to assassinate US officials, including US President Donald Trump.
Asif Merchant, from Pakistan and Iran, arrived in the US in 2024 to hire hitmen and was arrested months later.
He admitted at trial that he attempted the plot on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Merchant started working for the IRGC around late 2022, and was trained in intelligence and counter-surveillance, the Department of Justice says.
His plot was exposed after he contacted an acquaintance in New York to help him.
The acquaintance reported Merchant to law enforcement and became a confidential source in the investigation.
Merchant faces up to life in prison.
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, March 7, 2026
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