A coded message believed to be an “operational trigger” for sleeper cells abroad was reportedly transmitted from Iran after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to a report citing US intelligence alerts.
The message, intercepted by authorities in United States, may have been intended to activate covert operatives or “sleeper assets” positioned outside Iran, ABC News reported, citing a federal alert circulated among law enforcement agencies.
The development comes as fighting between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to escalate across the Middle East following airstrikes launched on February 28.
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Encrypted signal broadcast internationally
According to the report, the message was encrypted and was meant for delivery to the intended recipients who had the decryption key. The message was apparently meant for providing guidance to the "clandestine recipients," possibly the sleeper cells located in other countries.
The authorities also intercepted a broadcast station repeatedly transmitting the coded message to other countries outside Iran. According to the intelligence authorities, the detection of a new international radio-frequency broadcast was the reason for the monitoring.
While the content of the message has not been identified yet, the memo sent to all security agencies indicated the nature and pattern of the transmissions and the need for vigilance.
No specific threat has been identified yet, and the authorities are monitoring the unusual transmissions.
Security tightened across US cities
The warning has also triggered increased security measures in major American cities.
Former Federal Bureau of Investigation official Chris Swecker told Fox News that the possibility of retaliatory attacks could not be dismissed during an active conflict. "If ever there’s going to be a Hezbollah cell or a Hamas cell act in the United States in a violent way, it’s now," he said.
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FBI Director Kash Patel said counterterrorism and intelligence teams had been placed on high alert following the strikes against Iran. Local authorities in cities including New York, Los Angeles and Miami have also increased patrols around places of worship, cultural institutions and schools.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump acknowledged the possibility of retaliation during the ongoing war, saying authorities were preparing for potential threats. "When you go to war, some people will die," Trump told reporters when asked about the risk of attacks on the US mainland.
