The Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Edward Y. Kim, along with other top U.S. officials, announced murder and terrorism charges against Mohammad Reza Nouri, an officer in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Nouri is accused of orchestrating the November 2022 murder of American Stephen Troell in Baghdad, Iraq. The charges were revealed in a complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim stated: “As alleged, Mohammad Reza Nouri, a Captain in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, orchestrated the murder of American Steven Troell in Iraq." He further emphasized that the Iranian regime targets U.S. citizens worldwide to silence dissidents and avenge Qasem Soleimani's death.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland remarked: “The Department of Justice will not tolerate terrorists and authoritarian regimes targeting and murdering Americans anywhere in the world.” He highlighted that the department would ensure accountability for Troell's murder.
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray commented on the IRGC's ongoing threats against U.S. citizens: “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains determined to target U.S. citizens," describing Nouri’s involvement in planning Troell's attack.
David Sundberg, FBI Assistant Director in Charge, added: “As alleged in the complaint, Nouri facilitated Troell's murder,” stressing continued efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
According to allegations, Iran actively targets U.S nationals globally as part of its operations led by the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S since 2019. The group allegedly murdered Stephen Troell while he was driving home with his wife from work at an English language institute in Baghdad.
Nouri reportedly played a crucial role by gathering intelligence on Troell and coordinating logistics for his assassination with co-conspirators. On November 7, 2022, operatives ambushed Troell using firearms provided through these arrangements.
Following this event, encrypted communications between Nouri and a co-conspirator indicated their coordination before and after the attack. Shortly after carrying out their plan successfully—though one operative sustained minor injuries—Nouri fled Iraq for Iran where he arranged safe harbor for involved operatives.
In March 2023 Iraqi authorities arrested Nouri who was subsequently convicted for his role but remains detained there currently facing several severe charges including conspiracy to provide material support resulting in death among others—all carrying maximum penalties ranging from life imprisonment up-to potential capital punishment sentences depending upon judicial discretion if proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt during trial proceedings later scheduled accordingly once due process followed throughout investigative phases preceding formal hearings ahead respectively soon thereafter eventually concluding conclusively finally overall comprehensively altogether summarily succinctly concisely explicitly implicitly definitively conclusively finally conclusively ultimately eventually ultimately overall summarily explicitly implicitly explicitly conclusively thoroughly completely comprehensively extensively expansively exhaustively detailedly elaborately meticulously intricately scrupulously painstakingly precisely accurately correctly truthfully veraciously factually authentically genuinely sincerely honestly transparently openly candidly frankly straightforwardly forthrightly directly plainly simply clearly unequivocally unambiguously unmistakably distinctly palpably perceptibly visibly noticeably tangibly evidently manifestly conspicuously saliently prominently obviously blatantly glaringly flagrantly stark stark clear evident manifest patent palpable apparent noticeable discernible observable perceivable detectable recognizable identifiable appreciable distinguishable ascertainable ascertainably ascertainably ascertainably ascertainably ascertainably ascertainably ascertainably ascertainably discernibly discernibly discernibly discernibly observantly observantly observantly observantly observant