Iranian 'terror mastermind' wants to represent himself in US trial

The National · Tariq Tahir · 2026-11-06 07:45 UTC

Mohammad Al Saadi is feared to be pulling strings from behind bars

Mohammad Al Saadi has not been idle as he sits in New York’s Metropolitan Detention Centre awaiting his trial on charges of orchestrating attacks on Jewish and Iranian opposition targets in Europe and the US.

The latest move from Mr Al Saadi has been to express a desire to dismiss his lawyers and represent himself in his case, which could lead to a life sentence if he is convicted, after being arrested in Turkey and brought to the US.

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

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