Federal prosecutors have unsealed a new indictment alleging that a commander of an Iranian-linked terrorist group orchestrated a failed plot to attack a high-profile UK military base from his cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. Mohammad Dawood Al-Saadi, who holds dual citizenship in Iran and Iraq, is accused of using cryptic language during recorded jailhouse phone calls to direct conspirators in a failed effort to target RAF Fairford, a base that serves as a station for US B-1 bombers. The man, Mohammad Dawood Al-Saadi, a dual Iranian and Iraqi citizen, is accused of using coded messages in calls to his family to give instructions to two other people who attempted to help carry out the attack on the base, RAF Fairford, where US B-1 bombers were stationed. Which was handed up by a grand jury in New York on Tuesday, lays the planned attack at the feet of alleged Iranian military operatives, the new indictment. According to prosecutors, In a court filing that on a recorded call Al-Saadi “used coded language, and at times stated that they should be careful about using certain language to avoid the call being cut short.”.
Al-Saadi, an associate of the group Kataib Hezbollah, had been held at the federal facility earlier this year following his arrest on various charges related to international terror activities. According to court documents, he worked alongside Mohsen Mohajeri, an operative for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and another Iranian national named Mohammad Ali Al-Hassani. All three men now face formal charges in connection with the failed operation.
The plot drew scrutiny in September when British authorities intercepted three suspicious vehicles attempting to approach the RAF facility. Seven individuals were initially apprehended under suspicion of planning a terrorist attack, though they were later released on strict conditions after investigators found no explosives in the vans. However, individuals briefed on the investigation confirmed that the plan intended to weaponize the fuel-laden vehicles as improvised explosive devices. Following further intelligence suggesting IRGC involvement, British authorities rearrested several of the suspects in late October.
Court filings suggest Al-Hassani managed the logistical phases of the operation, including ordering surveillance of the base and coordinating the procurement of vehicles and fuel. Prosecutors allege that Al-Saadi maintained operational control from his detention cell, using nicknames and coded instructions to direct his family members in Iraq to manage financial transfers for the plot. In one intercepted communication from July, Al-Saadi specifically inquired if their “old work” had been paused, to which he was assured it remained active. Prosecutors say, including when they encountered security at the base, he also kept in contact with the drivers while they approached.
The indictment provides significant context regarding Al-Saadi’s long-standing connections to Iranian military leadership. Before his detention, he allegedly worked closely with Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, until the commander’s death in a 2020 US strike. Prosecutors describe Al-Saadi as having been a protégé of Soleimani and note his history of proximity to high-level Iranian figures, including the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whom Al-Saadi allegedly warned of pending US strikes in early 2026. She allegedly responded: “it isn’t cancelled.”. Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly four decades, was killed in the first wave of US and Israeli strikes in February.
Prior to the UK plot, Al-Saadi faced charges for allegedly filming terror attacks in Europe via FaceTime and producing propaganda videos, including footage related to arson at Jewish institutions. He was apprehended in Turkey earlier this year after attempting to recruit an associate for potential attacks in the United States, unaware he was communicating with an undercover law enforcement agent. During post-arrest debriefings, Al-Saadi reportedly claimed to manage psychological warfare and strategic intelligence for various Iranian-backed groups.
Due to the risk posed by his continued communications, the Department of Justice placed Al-Saadi in a special housing unit under restrictive administrative measures, limiting his contact to attorneys and immediate family. Despite these controls, prosecutors allege he continued to use coded language to push for the “job” to be completed, notably directing his family on September 24 to provide money to facilitate the mission. The trial proceedings are ongoing, with Al-Saadi having entered a plea of not guilty and expressing his intent to represent himself in court. According to court records, al-Saadi has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges and has made efforts to start representing himself in the criminal case. “For example, on his last call on September 24, 2026, when he directed his family to ‘give him money so we can do it,’” they wrote to the judge. The Justice Department informed the judge Al-Saadi was placed on SAMs “after finding that there is substantial risk that his communications or contacts with persons could result in death or serious bodily injury to persons, or substantial damage to property that would entail the risk of serious bodily injury to persons.”. Natasha Bertrand and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.
