A Pakistani national identified by U.S. authorities as an Iranian intelligence asset has been convicted in connection with a plot to assassinate American political figures, including Donald Trump.

Conviction in Federal Terror Plot

According to the United States Department of Justice, Asif Merchant was found guilty on terrorism and murder-for-hire charges tied to an alleged scheme to recruit operatives inside the United States to carry out targeted assassinations.

Investigators said Merchant attempted to coordinate attacks against U.S. politicians as retaliation for the 2020 killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike ordered during Trump’s presidency.

FBI Terrorism Investigation

The case was uncovered through a joint investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Authorities said Merchant attempted to recruit individuals within the United States to carry out the assassination plan, but the plot was disrupted before any attack could take place.

Alleged IRGC Mastermind Eliminated

In a related development, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced that Rahman Mokadam, identified as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unit leader allegedly responsible for orchestrating the plot, had been eliminated during recent military operations.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a powerful branch of Iran’s military and intelligence structure that has been linked by U.S. officials to overseas covert operations.

Heightened Security Concerns

The conviction highlights ongoing concerns among U.S. security agencies about foreign-directed assassination plots targeting American officials and political figures. Authorities say such operations often involve international networks and intelligence operatives working through intermediaries.

The case also comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, particularly as conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.