NEW YORK, USA: A Pakistani man, Asif Raza Merchant, has pleaded not guilty to charges of plotting to assassinate a US official in retaliation for the American drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.
Merchant, 46, was arraigned on Monday and faces accusations of seeking to hire a hitman to target a U.S. politician or government official. The next court hearing is set for November 6, 2024.
The plot came to light following Merchant’s efforts to recruit an assassin, who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent. FBI Director Christopher Wray described Merchant’s alleged actions as typical of Iranian tactics, noting his close ties to Iran. The U.S. Justice Department emphasized its commitment to holding accountable those involved in such plots against Americans.
Merchant, who had recently arrived in the U.S. from Pakistan after spending time in Iran, was arrested on July 12 while planning to leave the country. The Iranian government has denied any connection to the plot, stating that such methods contradict its policy of seeking justice for Soleimani’s death.
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