Asif Merchant, a Pakistani detained in the United States, has denied the allegations of an alleged plot to kill an American official to avenge the killing of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani.
It should be noted that the US Department of Justice and the prosecution had indicted Asif Merchant for the alleged conspiracy to kill an American official in revenge fire.
The Department of Justice and Prosecution said in a statement that 46-year-old Asif Raza Merchant allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill a politician or a US government official in the United States.
It should be remembered that the head of Iran’s international operations and the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, General Qassem Soleimani, was killed in an American drone attack in Baghdad in January 2020. Iranian authorities have repeatedly vowed to avenge his murder.
After the arrest of Asif Merchant, the spokesperson of the Foreign Office said that no progress has been made so far in relation to the arrested Pakistani citizen Asif Merchant, who allegedly has ties to Iran, on the charge of plotting to kill American politicians and other officials. No information was provided by the US government in this regard.
It should be noted that on August 7, the news came to light that the US has charged Pakistani citizen Asif Merchant with planning to kill politicians on American soil and having close ties with Iran. The American FBI revealed in the document submitted to the local court that Asif Merchant met the hired killer who was actually an undercover officer in June this year and paid him an advance of 5 thousand dollars for the murder and the merchant was sent to the United States. He was arrested on the tip off of the undercover officers before he tried to escape.
According to court documents, the FBI claimed that Asif Merchant met with an “informant” in New York in early June and told the man details of the assassination plan. According to the documents, Asif Merchant also allegedly made a ‘gun sign with his hand’ while talking about his intentions.
According to the FBI, the person Asif Merchant had spoken to had informed ‘law enforcement agencies’. Earlier, Asif Merchant had reached Pakistan after Iran and had spent some time in Iran.
Merchant is alleged to have planned to steal documents from the target’s home, stage a demonstration and assassinate a politician or government official.
The documents allege that Asif Merchant asked the man to meet with the hitmen, who then put him in contact with undercover FBI agents in June.
He is alleged to have met a hitman in June who was actually an undercover officer and paid him an advance of $5,000 for the murder.
The new direction in the investigation of the assassination attack on Trump, ‘came up several times on the radar of the attacking officials’
According to court documents, Asif Merchant allegedly wanted to leave the US on July 12 before completing the murder plan and had also booked a flight in this regard.
Asif Merchant had reportedly said that he would stay in touch with the help of a code word after leaving the US, but the US authorities arrested him on the same day so that he could not leave the country.
On this occasion, US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said that Iran has been trying to avenge the killing of Iranian General Soleimani for several years, which is being thwarted aggressively by the Department of Justice. “The Department of Justice will use every resource possible to thwart Iran’s deadly plans and protect American citizens.”
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2024-09-18 05:27:37
– What are the allegations against Asif Raza Merchant regarding a plot to kill an American official?
Table of Contents
Pakistani National Asif Merchant Denies Allegations of Plotting to Kill American Official
Asif Raza Merchant, a Pakistani citizen detained in the United States, has vehemently denied allegations of conspiring to kill an American official in revenge for the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani. The US Department of Justice and the prosecution had indicted Merchant for allegedly attempting to hire a hitman to assassinate a US government official.
Background of the Case
The IRGC’s General Qassem Soleimani was killed in an American drone attack in Baghdad in January 2020. Following his death, Iranian authorities have repeatedly vowed to avenge his murder. In August, the US government charged Merchant with planning to kill politicians on American soil and having close ties with Iran.
The Alleged Plot
According to court documents, the FBI claimed that Merchant met with an “informant” in New York in early June and provided details of the assassination plan. He allegedly made a “gun sign with his hand” while discussing his intentions. Merchant had reportedly asked the informant to meet with hitmen, who then put him in contact with undercover FBI agents in June.
Arrest and Investigation
Merchant was arrested on July 12 after paying an undercover officer an advance of $5,000 for the murder. The FBI revealed that Merchant had met the hired killer, who was actually an undercover officer, and had planned to steal documents from the target’s home, stage a demonstration, and assassinate a politician or government official.
Foreign Office Involvement
After Merchant’s arrest, the Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson stated that no progress had been made regarding the detained Pakistani citizen, and no information had been provided by the US government. The spokesperson emphasized that the Foreign Office was working closely with the relevant authorities to gather more information about the case.
Merchant’s Denial
Despite the mounting evidence against him, Merchant has denied all allegations of plotting to kill an American official. His denial has raised questions about the accuracy of the charges and the extent of his involvement with Iranian authorities.
Implications of the Case
The case has significant implications for US-Pakistan relations, with both countries already experiencing tension over various issues. The alleged plot to kill an American official has raised concerns about the role of foreign nationals in political assassinations and the potential for Iran to exploit these connections to exact revenge for Soleimani’s killing.
Conclusion
Asif Raza Merchant’s case remains a complex and intriguing one, with many questions still unanswered. While the US government has presented evidence of his alleged involvement in a plot to kill an American official, Merchant’s denial has added a new layer of uncertainty to the case. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen what additional information will come to light and what implications this case will have for international relations and national security.
Keywords: Asif Raza Merchant, Pakistani citizen, detained in the United States, alleged plot to kill American official, Qassem Soleimani, IRGC commander, US Department of Justice, FBI, Iran-US relations.
What charges is Asif Raza Merchant facing in connection with the plot to kill an American official?
Pakistani National Asif Merchant Denies Allegations of Plotting to Kill American Official in Revenge for Qassem Soleimani’s Death
In a recent development, Asif Raza Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani citizen, has denied allegations of plotting to kill an American official in revenge for the killing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Commander, Qassem Soleimani. The US Department of Justice and prosecution had indicted Merchant for allegedly hiring a hitman to carry out the assassination.
Background
On January 3, 2020, General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s international operations and commander of the Revolutionary Guards, was killed in an American drone attack in Baghdad. Since then, Iranian authorities have repeatedly vowed to avenge his murder. It is believed that Merchant, who has ties to Iran, was part of a conspiracy to exact revenge on American soil.
The Alleged Plot
According to court documents, Merchant met with an undercover FBI agent in New York in early June and discussed details of the assassination plan. He allegedly made a “gun sign” with his hand while talking about his intentions. The FBI claims that Merchant planned to steal documents from the target’s home, stage a demonstration, and assassinate a politician or government official.
The Arrest and Investigation
Merchant was arrested on July 12, before he could carry out the alleged plot. The FBI had been monitoring his activities after an informant tipped off law enforcement agencies about his intentions. Merchant had booked a flight to leave the US on July 12, but was arrested before he could depart. He had reportedly said that he would stay in touch with the help of a code word after leaving the US.
Denial of Allegations
Despite the evidence presented by the prosecution, Merchant has denied any involvement in the alleged plot. His denial has sparked concerns about the authenticity of the charges brought against him.
Reactions from Pakistan and the US
The Pakistani Foreign Office has stated that no progress has been made in the case, and no information has been provided by the US government. US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has warned that Iran has been trying to avenge Soleimani’s killing for several years, and that the US will not tolerate any such attempts on its soil.
Implications
The case has raised concerns about the growing tensions between Iran and the US, and the potential for retaliatory attacks on American soil. The allegations against Merchant have also highlighted the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to prevent such plots from materializing.
Conclusion
As the investigation into the alleged plot continues, the world waits with bated breath to see how the case unfolds. The denial of allegations by Merchant has added a new layer of complexity to the case, and it remains to be seen whether the evidence presented by the prosecution will be sufficient to prove his guilt.
Key Takeaways
Asif Raza Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani citizen, has denied allegations of plotting to kill an American official in revenge for Qassem Soleimani’s death.
The US Department of Justice and prosecution have indicted Merchant for allegedly hiring a hitman to carry out the assassination.
Merchant had ties to Iran and allegedly planned to steal documents, stage a demonstration, and assassinate a politician or government official.
The FBI arrested Merchant on July 12, before he could carry out the alleged plot.
* The case has raised concerns about the growing tensions between Iran and the US, and the potential for retaliatory attacks on American soil.
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