1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. (In this article, 1st and 2nd paragraphs). List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. What sentence might Merchant receive, if convicted?

3. List the timeline of what we know about Merchant's plot.

4. How did the FBI catch Merchant?

5. What did Merchant's plot entail?

6. Consider the statements made by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in paragraphs 4-5, as well as the following:

• As president, Trump had imposed sanctions on Iran. When Biden came into office he removed the sanctions and freed up hundreds of billions of dollars for Iran, which that government then used for terrorist activities.
• Iran is a member of the United Nations. The purpose of the U.N. (from its website) is “to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people.”
• The Iranian government officially targets Americans, and sponsors numerous terrorist groups including Hamas who on Oct. 7, 2023 murdered over 1,200 Israeli (and others including American) young people and families, and is still holding over 100 people hostage..., Hezbollah, the group attacking Israel from Lebanon and the Yemeni Houthis (who have greatly disrupted worldwide commerce by attacking even commercial ships in the Red Sea)

What do you think:
a) Is the UN irrelevant?
b) Should the U.S. adopt a new foreign policy to deal with Iran?
Explain your answers. (If you don't know, ask a parent what he/she thinks :)