Alleged Iranian terror mastermind 'in control' from behind bars

Mohammad Al Saadi, a 32-year-old man from Tehran, is currently imprisoned in New York's Metropolitan Detention Centre, awaiting trial for allegedly orchestrating attacks on Jewish and Iranian opposition targets in Europe and the US. Born an Iranian-Iraqi citizen, Al Saadi has lived most of his life in Iraq and is accused of being the leader of Harakat Ashab Al Yamin Al Islamia, also known as Ashab Al Yamin.

Al Saadi has been restricted to making only one phone call per month, as authorities fear he may plot a terrorist attack from within the prison. The US Justice Department asserts that he has been utilizing coded messages during these calls to coordinate new plots, transfer $1 million, and oversee the release of propaganda videos. Al Saadi has demanded to represent himself in court, prompting his lawyers to seek a meeting to discuss his request.

The Special Administrative Measures imposed on Al Saadi due to his alleged activities have strained the attorney-client relationship, according to his lawyers. These measures have limited his access to reading materials and social interactions, leading him to believe he should represent himself. Al Saadi has waived his Miranda rights after being detained, identifying himself as a leader of resistance groups, including Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxies.

In his prison cell, investigators discovered evidence of Al Saadi's involvement with IRGC, Kataib Hezbollah, and Hezbollah. Photos show him standing in front of machineguns, maps with alleged US targets, and a video of himself meeting with Qassem Suleimani, the long-time commander of IRGC Quds Force. The US Justice Department warns that if allowed to communicate freely, Al Saadi poses a significant risk to public safety, having a history of communicating about terrorist attacks.