A federal jury in Brooklyn found 47-year-old Pakistani Asif Merchant guilty of planning assassinations against US politicians.
Medianews.az reports that "The New York Times" published this information.
It was stated that Asif Merchant is charged with assassination attempts on high-ranking US officials, including President Donald Trump, as well as planning terrorist acts.
The article indicated that Asif Merchant faces a life sentence.
According to the report, he acted within a scheme allegedly supported by the Iranian government. The accused has been involved since 2020, under the direction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC/SEPAH), in executing a plan including recruiting terrorists, document theft, and assassination attempts on high-ranking US officials.
The document noted that his targets, besides D. Trump, included former President Joseph Biden and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
Merchant grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, and frequently traveled to Iran. Prosecutors claim that he became a "clumsy spy" after Qasim Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike on January 3, 2020.
Additionally, case materials include photo collages Merchant shared on social media. In one of these pictures, D. Trump is shown digging his own grave; in another, holding his severed head; and in a third, Merchant depicted the US president next to a pig.
US Attorney for the Eastern District Joseph Nocella stated that Merchant used the clothing business as a cover for assassination plans. The prosecutor even alleged that he used names of clothing items and fabric dyes as code words while communicating with his Iranian handler and criminals.
It should be noted that Pakistani lawyers have filed an appeal regarding the matter and expressed confidence that they will eventually achieve a favorable outcome. // Oxu.az
