Iranian intelligence with irons in multiple fires, is seen as potent tool of the Islamic State with its reach extending far beyond their borders. But was Iran involved in the plot to assassinate American politicians or leaders using hired hitmen and the services of Pakistani Asif Merchant?
Merchant “indicated an affinity for Iran”, that he often travelled there and had wife and children there and in Pakistan.
But he is not known to have any past record of criminal behaviour, so in that sense whoever hired him was banking on him never being noticed. The word is someone reported to law enforcement that Merchant had asked him to steal information, organise protests and carry out an assassination.
A closer investigation would have revealed his comings and goings between Pakistan and the US or even side trips to Iran.
In a sting operation carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Merchant was led to believe the people he was talking to would facilitate his plans to assassinate a well-protected, high-level official.
Was the target Donald Trump? The FBI is non-committal although a senior Trump official was quoted by Politico magazine as saying that he had received a “duty to warn” briefing by the agency, before the charges against Merchant was unsealed in court.
Reports say Trump’s name came up during discussions with Merchant, that he was a possible target. He had also told agents that there would be security “all around the target”.
He had code words that he shared with the undercover agents: “fleece jacket” was the code word for murder; “flannel shirt” would mean stealing; “tee-shirt” would mean protest.
Merchant is being held without bail on the orders of the court but the attorney general said there is no connection between him and the attempted assassination of Trump recently.
