Federal authorities have uncovered an assassination plot targeting former President Donald Trump and other high-profile US political figures.

Asif Merchant, a 46-year-old man who frequently traveled to Iran, was arrested in July on charges of murder for hire. According to prosecutors, Merchant arrived in the US from Pakistan in April following a two-week stay in Iran. Upon his arrival, he allegedly reached out to an individual he believed could assist in orchestrating an assassination plot. This contact, however, alerted authorities to Merchant’s deadly intentions.

In the weeks that followed, Merchant engaged in discussions with undercover FBI agents posing as hitmen. During these conversations, he allegedly made a “finger gun” gesture and emphasized that the operation would be ongoing, suggesting a potentially broader conspiracy.

Prosecutors detail how Merchant paid $5,000 to an undercover FBI agent and provided instructions for stealing documents, staging protests at political rallies, and ultimately assassinating a political person. According to CBS News, while the indictment does not name specific targets, sources close to the investigation have revealed that Trump was among them.

“A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any US citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said on Tuesday.

Trump, who ordered the killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, has been under increased security. This is due to a recent surge of Iranian death threats and after surviving an attempt on his life by a US citizen last month.