Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

International Business Times UK

World

Tanmay Puri

Pakistani Man 'Paid $5,000 In Cash' To Plot Assassination Of Trump And Biden — Claims Iran Threatened His Family

Asif Merchant Donald Trump Iran Assassination Joe Biden United States FBI Nikki Haley IRGC Tehran

Plot to allegedly assassinate Donald Trump and Joe Biden foiled (Credit: AFP News)

Asif Merchant, a 47-year-old Pakistani national, told a Brooklyn federal jury on 4 March 2026 that he was 'forced' by Iranian intelligence into a murder-for-hire plot targeting high-level US officials.

During his second day of testimony, the former banker insisted that his involvement in the scheme to assassinate Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley was a desperate attempt to protect his family in Tehran from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Merchant is facing life in prison on charges of attempted terrorism and murder-for-hire following a 2024 FBI sting operation.

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

FL Declares Emergency in 25 Counties as Gulf Depression Could Become Season's First Hurricane, Residents Warned

FL Declares Emergency in 25 Counties as Gulf Depression Could Become Season's First Hurricane, Residents Warned

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared an emergency in 25 counties as Tropical Depression Nine tracks towards the Gulf Coast with hurricane-strength conditions possible near landfall.

International Business Times UK

USMNT Player Ratings vs. Canada: American Boys See Out Perfect Fall Window

USMNT Player Ratings vs. Canada: American Boys See Out Perfect Fall Window

The U.S. men’s national team cruised to a 1–0 win against Canada.

Sports Illustrated

Friends of Nolan Wells sue NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens for defamation

Friends of Nolan Wells sue NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens for defamation

Owens sued over September Instagram post that suggested trio tampered with evidence in death of Mississippi teen

The Guardian - US

Fergus County Measles Case Triggers Amtrak Exposure Alert in Montana as North Dakota Warns Empire Builder Riders

Fergus County Measles Case Triggers Amtrak Exposure Alert in Montana as North Dakota Warns Empire Builder Riders

A measles case in Fergus County, Montana, prompted alerts for an Amtrak stop in Malta and a Moore business as North Dakota warns train riders.

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

‘Not exactly his favorite senator’: Susan Collins distances herself from Trump in Maine debate

‘Not exactly his favorite senator’: Susan Collins distances herself from Trump in Maine debate

Republican challenged by Democrat Troy Jackson in critical Senate race says she opposes Iran war and Canada tariffs

The Guardian - US

Haiti postpones elections indefinitely as gang violence hampers preparations

Haiti postpones elections indefinitely as gang violence hampers preparations

Haiti has indefinitely postponed elections scheduled for December and February, the electoral council said Tuesday, citing technical and operational requirements as gang violence continues to disrupt preparations. The delay leaves Haitians without a vote as authorities struggle to register voters and secure areas needed for the poll.

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

FL Declares Emergency in 25 Counties as Gulf Depression Could Become Season's First Hurricane, Residents Warned

FL Declares Emergency in 25 Counties as Gulf Depression Could Become Season's First Hurricane, Residents Warned

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared an emergency in 25 counties as Tropical Depression Nine tracks towards the Gulf Coast with hurricane-strength conditions possible near landfall.

International Business Times UK

USMNT Player Ratings vs. Canada: American Boys See Out Perfect Fall Window

USMNT Player Ratings vs. Canada: American Boys See Out Perfect Fall Window

The U.S. men’s national team cruised to a 1–0 win against Canada.

Sports Illustrated

Friends of Nolan Wells sue NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens for defamation

Friends of Nolan Wells sue NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens for defamation

Owens sued over September Instagram post that suggested trio tampered with evidence in death of Mississippi teen

The Guardian - US

Fergus County Measles Case Triggers Amtrak Exposure Alert in Montana as North Dakota Warns Empire Builder Riders

Fergus County Measles Case Triggers Amtrak Exposure Alert in Montana as North Dakota Warns Empire Builder Riders

A measles case in Fergus County, Montana, prompted alerts for an Amtrak stop in Malta and a Moore business as North Dakota warns train riders.

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

‘Not exactly his favorite senator’: Susan Collins distances herself from Trump in Maine debate

‘Not exactly his favorite senator’: Susan Collins distances herself from Trump in Maine debate

Republican challenged by Democrat Troy Jackson in critical Senate race says she opposes Iran war and Canada tariffs

The Guardian - US

Haiti postpones elections indefinitely as gang violence hampers preparations

Haiti postpones elections indefinitely as gang violence hampers preparations

Haiti has indefinitely postponed elections scheduled for December and February, the electoral council said Tuesday, citing technical and operational requirements as gang violence continues to disrupt preparations. The delay leaves Haitians without a vote as authorities struggle to register voters and secure areas needed for the poll.

Our Picks

His Wife Says Decades of Sleep Talking Nearly Went Quiet After Hypnosis Gave Her a One-Word Cue

A man's decades-long sleep talking faded after hypnosis gave his wife a librarian's "Shhhh" as a cue, a case report says. Here's what it shows.

A Woman Smoked, Ate, and Walked in Her Sleep, and the Behaviors Returned Every Time Her Medication Stopped

A woman sleepwalked, ate, and smoked during sleep. A 2022 case report found that one bedtime drug quieted all three until it was stopped.

Have an Elmo Teether in the Freezer? Check It Before Giving It Back to Baby

That familiar red Elmo face sitting in your freezer may deserve a closer look before it goes back into your baby’s hands. A Skip Hop Baby “Sesame Street” Elmo Silicone Teether has been recalled because its black eye pieces can detach if the product is frozen, creating a choking hazard.…

Kids Ain't Cheap

Gen Z's new American Dream: Skip the mortgage, book the flight

Young Americans are trading square footage, new cars, and even moving out for plane tickets, even as airfares jump more than 20%.

Megan Fox Tagged 'Unrecognisable' in Letterboxd Video as Fans Defend Her Against Meaningless Comments

A Letterboxd video featuring Megan Fox and Karyn Kusama prompted online debate about Fox's appearance, with fans challenging unsupported speculation about cosmetic procedures or health

International Business Times UK

US Schools Record Nearly 12,000 Book Bans, the Highest Ever in a Single Year, as 'Jane Eyre' and 'Lessons in Chemistry' Join the List

PEN America reports nearly 12,000 book-ban instances in US schools, a record total, as Texas overtakes Florida and AI tools enter the removal process.

International Business Times UK

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play