A Pakistani man accused of plotting to assassinate US President Donald Trump told jurors on Wednesday that he did not willingly cooperate with Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the alleged scheme.
The US Justice Department has charged Asif Merchant with terrorism and murder-for-hire offences, accusing him of attempting to recruit individuals in the United States to target Trump and other American politicians. Prosecutors say the alleged plot was conceived as retaliation for Washington’s 2020 killing of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani.
The IRGC holds significant influence in Iran, combining military strength, economic interests and a far-reaching intelligence network.
During his trial, Merchant told the court he acted under pressure and did not willingly participate in the plan. According to reports, he said he became involved to protect his family in Tehran. “I was not wanting to do this so willingly,” he was quoted as telling the court.
Prosecutors have rejected his claim of coercion, arguing there is a lack of evidence to support a defence of duress. In a letter to the judge dated 2024, they said there was insufficient proof that Merchant had been forced to take part in the alleged plot.
Merchant reportedly testified that he was never directly ordered to kill a specific individual, but that his Iranian handler mentioned three names during discussions in Tehran: Trump, former President Joe Biden, and former US ambassador and Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley.
Lawyers for Merchant did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the White House also declined to comment.
The trial began last week, shortly before Trump ordered joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials.
Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Trump referenced an alleged Iranian plot while discussing the operation, saying: “I got him before he got me.”
Tehran has denied accusations that it targeted Trump or other US officials. The case continues to unfold amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Melissa Enoch
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