America accuses an Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer of killing an American citizen in Iraq Crime news

The United States says Mohammad Reza Nouri orchestrated the killing of Stephen Truell in 2022 in retaliation for Qasem Soleimani.

The United States has charged an alleged Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officer with terrorism and murder in connection with the 2022 killing of an American citizen in Iraq.

The Justice Department issued the charges on Friday, accusing Mohammad Reza Nouri of orchestrating the killing of Stephen Truell in Baghdad in retaliation for the US assassination of the prominent Iranian general. Qasem Soleimani Two years ago.

Trowell worked at an English language institute in Iraq, and at the time of his death, the US embassy said he was in the country in a “private capacity” working with the Iraqi people.

But according to the Justice Department, Nouri apparently believed Trowell was working as an American or Israeli intelligence officer.

The US government accused Nouri of monitoring Trowell and providing weapons, vehicles and safe haven to the militants who killed him.

The Justice Department said Nouri remains in Iraq, where he was arrested and then convicted for his role in the killing.

“The Department of Justice will not tolerate terrorists and authoritarian regimes targeting and killing Americans anywhere in the world,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

“Steven should be alive today, and the Department of Justice will work relentlessly to ensure accountability for his murder.”

Last year, the Associated Press news agency reported that five people — four Iraqis and one Iranian — were sentenced to life in prison for Trowell’s murder.

The officials did not publicly name the Iraqi suspects, but told the news agency that the Iranian suspect was Muhammad Ali Reza.

The charges brought against Nouri on Friday come amid regional tensions, with Washington imposing sanctions on Tehran and US officials. Iran warned Against the development of its nuclear program.

President-elect Donald TrumpHe, who ordered the killing of Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad in 2020, is expected to intensify US pressure on Iran when he takes office next month.

Over the past several years, Washington has accused Tehran of plots to kill dissidents and Americans around the world, including On American soil – Accusations that Iran has largely denied.

Earlier this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Iran should “focus on itself” and stop engaging in “misadventures throughout the region” after its recent setbacks, including strikes by Israel against Hezbollah in Lebanon. .