Alleged Iranian Terror Mastermind Allegedly Directing Operations from Behind Bars

Mohammad Al Saadi, currently detained at New York’s Metropolitan Detention Centre awaiting trial, is reportedly still actively involved in directing activities. He faces charges for allegedly orchestrating attacks targeting Jewish and Iranian opposition groups in Europe and the United States. In a recent development, Mr. Al Saadi has expressed a desire to dismiss his legal representation and proceed with self-representation in his case, which carries a potential life sentence upon conviction. He was initially arrested in Turkey before being transferred to the US.

The 32-year-old is alleged to be a key figure behind Harakat Ashab Al Yamin Al Islamia, also known as Ashab Al Yamin, which translates to the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand. US records indicate he was born in Tehran, holding dual Iranian and Iraqi citizenship, though he has spent most of his life in Iraq.

Concerns about Mr. Al Saadi potentially plotting terrorist attacks from within prison have led to restrictions, including limiting him to one phone call per month. The US Justice Department claims he has been using coded messages during these calls to his family to encourage others to carry out new plots, direct the transfer of $1 million, and oversee the release of propaganda videos.

In a letter addressed to Judge Colleen McMahon, Mr. Al Saadi's defense lawyers stated they are requesting a conference to discuss his wish to represent himself. They cited the Special Administrative Measures imposed on him due to his alleged activities as a source of strain on the attorney-client relationship. The lawyers also noted that since the FBI has been monitoring his mail, he has not received any reading materials for the past month. This lack of communication and inability to explain the delay has reportedly led Mr. Al Saadi to believe he might as well represent himself, compounding his social isolation.

Mr. Al Saadi faces eight charges related to orchestrating nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the US. He is also accused of attempting to attack a synagogue in New York City and seeking individuals in the US willing to commit acts of violence.

His apparent determination to act independently was first indicated when he waived his Miranda rights upon detention. These rights are US constitutional protections that include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, which law enforcement must inform suspects about before questioning.

Mr. Al Saadi identified himself as a leader of “the resistance,” which he described as encompassing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxies, including Kataib Hezbollah, Hezbollah, and Yemen's Houthi rebels. Investigators discovered FaceTime calls on his social media accounts with individuals involved in attacks, including a firebombing of a London synagogue on April 18. Images reportedly show him watching a livestream of the attack while another man provided detailed instructions in English to the attackers.

His phone also contained videos of two men in hazmat suits, with the Ashab Al Yamin logo, and a drone with two vials of white powder attached. This content aligns with a propaganda video posted on Telegram by Ashab Al Yamin, claiming attacks on the Israeli embassy in London using drones with dangerous materials.

Evidence on Mr. Al Saadi's phone also indicated his long-standing support for the IRGC, Kataib Hezbollah, and Hezbollah. He was pictured in a conference room with machine guns, which he stated in a post-arrest interview was used for “military intelligence” for “the resistance.” The room featured a map of the United States with a list of “legitimate targets” including prominent US officials.

Mr. Al Saadi told investigators he was like a son to Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC Quds Force, and is very close with the IRGC leadership. He claimed to have been traveling with Soleimani on the day he was killed in a US air strike. Mr. Al Saadi also asserted closeness to Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom he met shortly before the current conflict with the US began. His phone contained a video of him meeting with Mr. Suleimani and Akram ‘Abbas Al Kabi, secretary general of Harakat Al Nujaba.

The US Justice Department has stated that the defendant poses a significant risk to public safety, including the potential to harm others and inspire future terrorist attacks, if granted unfettered communication. They noted his documented history of discussing terrorist attacks with others.