A Pakistani citizen with connections to Iran entered a plea of not guilty on Monday to federal charges alleging he attempted to commit an act of terrorism and murder-for-hire as part of a plan to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

Asif Merchant, the suspect in the case, was ordered to remain in custody until his trial during the court hearing in Brooklyn federal court.

It's worth noting that Merchant's arraignment took place on the same day that another individual, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58 years old, appeared in a Florida court to face firearm charges connected to an unrelated incident that involved an alleged attempt on Trump's life.

Merchant was indicted on federal charges in August, after being previously arrested and charged by complaint the month prior. If convicted of the charges contained in the indictment, he faces up to life in prison.

has reached out to his attorney for comment.

"The Justice Department will not tolerate Iran's attempts to target our country's public officials and jeopardize our national security," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement following the indictment. "As these terrorism and murder for hire charges against Asif Merchant demonstrate, we will continue to hold accountable those who would try to carry out Iran's lethal plotting against Americans."

After spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan in April and contacted a person he believed could help him with the scheme to kill Trump, the complaint alleged. That person reported Merchant's conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source, according to the indictment.

Merchant sought to employ hitmen who could carry out the assassination of Trump and others, the indictment alleged. Merchant allegedly explained his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: stealing documents or USB drives from a target's residence; planning a demonstration; and killing a politician or government official, the indictment alleged.

Merchant met with the purported hitmen -- who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers -- in New York, as per the indictment. He allegedly told them they would receive instructions on who to eliminate either the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had left the U.S., according to the indictment.

After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the supposed hitmen, the indictment cited one of them saying, "Now we're in business," to which Merchant allegedly replied, "Yes." The undercover officer then stated, "Now we're moving forward. We're doing this," to which Merchant allegedly responded, "Yes, absolutely," according to the indictment.