Overview
- Testifying in Brooklyn federal court, Asif Merchant said an IRGC handler identified as Mehrdad/Mehradad Yousef recruited him in late 2022 or early 2023 and later told him to travel to the U.S. to find criminals to steal, launder money and possibly arrange a killing.
- Merchant told jurors the handler mentioned three possible targets — President Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley — and he claimed he complied only because relatives in Iran were under threat.
- Prosecutors presented June 2024 recordings from a Queens motel and other locations showing Merchant discussing an attack plan, including the line, “This is the target. How will it die?,” and handing $5,000 in cash to two supposed hit men who were undercover FBI agents.
- FBI Special Agent Jacqueline Smith testified that Merchant said in a post-arrest proffer the $5,000 came from cousin Hasnain Hyderi, described as working for the IRGC, and that he expected reimbursement through his handler; the defense stressed the interview was not recorded.
- Merchant maintains he anticipated arrest and intended to cooperate, while prosecutors note he never sought help or raised duress during interviews; he is charged with murder-for-hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries and faces a possible life sentence if convicted.