US War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that American forces have killed the alleged leader of an Iranian unit accused of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump, as a Pakistani national stands trial in New York over a related scheme.

Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Hegseth said, “Yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed.” He did not disclose the name of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander involved but described the action as retaliation for threats against Trump.

“President Trump got the last laugh,” Hegseth said, referring to the alleged assassination attempts.

Meanwhile, in federal court in Brooklyn, Pakistani national Asif Merchant is facing terrorism charges for allegedly conspiring with Iran to hire hitmen during the 2024 US presidential campaign. The trial had been scheduled before the latest escalation in US-Iran tensions.

Presiding Judge Eric Komitee noted the timing, saying the proceedings were unfolding in “interesting times.”

Prosecutors allege Merchant used a clothing business as a front while coordinating plans to target individuals he believed opposed Pakistan and the Muslim world. According to Assistant US Attorney Nina Gupta, Merchant discussed hiring assassins with a Pakistani contact who turned out to be an FBI informant.

The informant connected Merchant with undercover agents posing as hitmen. Court documents state Merchant provided $5,000 as an advance payment and discussed potential political targets, including Trump.

An FBI agent testified that Merchant admitted receiving training from the IRGC and allegedly communicated with handlers by concealing messages inside gift packages routed through Pakistan.

Merchant was arrested in July 2024 while attempting to leave the United States.

Separately, prosecutors in 2024 charged Afghan citizen Farhad Shakeri in absentia in another alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting Trump.

Iran’s IRGC has previously vowed revenge for the 2020 US drone strike that killed Qassim Suleimani during Trump’s first term, a killing that significantly heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

US officials have long warned of persistent threats against Trump linked to Iran.