U.S. Attorney Damian Williams | U.S. Department of Justice
The Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Edward Y. Kim, along with Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, and FBI Assistant Director David Sundberg, have announced murder and terrorism charges against Mohammad Reza Nouri. Nouri is an Iranian national and officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), accused of orchestrating the murder of American Stephen Troell in Baghdad on November 7, 2022.
Nouri was arrested in Iraq in March 2023. The charges were unsealed in Manhattan federal court and allege that Nouri gathered intelligence on Troell's routine, procured weapons and vehicles, and provided safe harbor to operatives who executed the attack.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim stated: “As alleged, Mohammad Reza Nouri...orchestrated the murder of American Steven Troell in Iraq...This Office will not stand by when an American is attacked and murdered in cold blood.”
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized: “The Department of Justice will not tolerate terrorists...targeting and murdering Americans anywhere in the world.”
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray noted: “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains determined to target U.S. citizens...Today’s announcement makes clear that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate the IRGC’s ruthless attacks on Americans.”
FBI Assistant Director David Sundberg added: “As alleged in the complaint, Nouri facilitated Troell's murder...The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring IRGC operatives...to justice for harming Americans.”
According to allegations, Iran targets U.S. nationals worldwide for kidnapping or execution as vengeance for Qasem Soleimani's death by a U.S. drone strike in January 2020. The IRGC has been designated a foreign terrorist organization since April 2019.
Nouri allegedly believed Troell was working as an intelligence officer and collected personal information about him to facilitate his murder. On November 7, 2022, operatives ambushed Troell as he drove home from work with his wife.
Following the attack, encrypted messages between Nouri and a co-conspirator celebrated their success before Nouri left Iraq for Iran where he arranged housing for operatives involved.
In March 2023, Iraqi authorities arrested Nouri who was later convicted by an Iraqi court for his role in Troell’s murder.
Nouri faces multiple charges including conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death; providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death; conspiring to take hostages; conspiring to murder U.S. nationals outside the United States; murdering a U.S. national outside the United States; and causing death through firearm use—all carrying maximum penalties ranging from life imprisonment to death.
Edward Y. Kim praised investigative efforts by various agencies including the FBI Washington Field Office and thanked Iraqi authorities for their support.
This case is being managed by the National Security and International Narcotics Unit with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob H. Gutwillig, Matthew J.C. Hellman, Kyle A. Wirshba leading prosecution efforts alongside Trial Attorneys Joshua Champagne and Timothy J. Reardon III from the Counterterrorism Section.
The charges remain accusations until proven guilty.
