Overview
- A federal jury in Brooklyn found Asif Merchant guilty of murder-for-hire and attempting to commit transnational terrorism after roughly two hours of deliberation.
- Authorities said Merchant was trained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and sent to the United States to arrange political assassinations, recruit operatives, steal documents and stage protests.
- Prosecutors presented recordings of meetings in New York, including a Queens motel session where Merchant mapped out a shooting on a napkin, and a June 21 exchange where he paid $5,000 to undercover FBI agents posing as hit men.
- Merchant testified that he acted under duress to protect family in Tehran and expected to be caught, but prosecutors highlighted his admissions, planning activities and an FBI agent’s account that he initially never mentioned threats.
- Possible targets discussed included President Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, according to testimony and filings, while Iranian officials have denied directing any plot; Merchant was arrested on July 12, 2024, before any attack occurred and now faces up to life in prison with sentencing to be set.