Raza Merchant, the Pakistani national accused of a 2024 murder-for-hire plot targeting U.S. politicians, testified that he was coerced into the scheme by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Merchant’s testimony comes as the U.S. and Israel continue their military campaign in Iran, a conflict President Trump has personally linked to these assassination threats, famously stating earlier this week, “I got him [Khamenei] before he got me.

The “Duress” Defense: Merchant told jurors that he did not participate “willingly.” He claimed his IRGC handler, identified as Mehrdad Yousef, pressured him by threatening his family members living in Tehran. “My family was under threat, and I had to do this,” Merchant testified through an interpreter.

The Targets: Merchant confirmed that while he wasn’t initially given a specific individual to kill, his handler eventually named three high-profile figures: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley.

Intent to Get Caught: In a surprising claim, Merchant testified that he never expected the plot to succeed and figured he would be apprehended. He told the court he was “mentally ready” to be caught and had intended to cooperate with the U.S. government in hopes of securing a green card.

The Payment: He noted that the $5,000 “token” payment he gave to undercover FBI agents (who he believed were hitmen) was so low that it proved the plot was “not realistic,” stating that “nobody does anybody’s murder” for such an amount.

he Prosecution’s Rebuttal

Federal prosecutors have pushed back heavily against this narrative of coercion:

• Lack of Evidence: In a letter to the judge, prosecutors argued there is no evidentiary support for a claim of duress. They noted that Merchant never mentioned these threats during his initial, voluntary FBI interviews following his arrest in July 2024.
• The “Super-Spy” Narrative: During cross-examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Gupta questioned Merchant’s matter-of-fact demeanor. Prosecutors highlighted his research into rally locations and his use of countersurveillance techniques as evidence of a calculated operative rather than a victim.

Broader Context

The trial is unfolding against the backdrop of a widening Middle East war. Just yesterday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the IRGC unit leader allegedly responsible for directing these plots was killed in a recent U.S. airstrike.

Merchant, a 47-year-old former banker, faces a potential life sentence if convicted of terrorism and murder-for-hire charges.