President Donald Trump said during a press briefing at Joint Base Andrews that U.S. authorities have identified and are monitoring suspected Iranian sleeper cell operatives believed to be inside the United States as military operations continue in the Middle East. Speaking about developments tied to Operation Epic Fury, Trump said federal agencies are closely tracking individuals thought to be connected to possible covert networks that could pose a domestic security threat. The issue came up when a reporter asked whether he had received intelligence briefings regarding the possible number of Iranian sleeper cells currently inside the country.
Trump confirmed that he had been briefed and claimed many of those individuals may have entered during the previous administration’s border policies. He criticized former President Joe Biden, arguing that weak border enforcement allowed dangerous actors to enter the United States. Trump added that authorities believe they know the whereabouts of most suspects and are maintaining surveillance on them. He also described the current military campaign as operating at an unusually high level of intensity, saying the conflict is being managed with significant precision and force. The president’s remarks follow reports that U.S. intelligence officials intercepted an encrypted communication believed to have originated from Iran. According to officials, the message may have been intended to activate sleeper cells or affiliated operatives in Western countries, though intelligence agencies have not publicly confirmed the full meaning of the transmission.
Since Operation Epic Fury began, two separate security incidents in the United States have raised concern among federal investigators. In Austin, Texas, a deadly mass shooting was carried out by a suspect reportedly wearing clothing with religious wording that drew public attention during the investigation. In a separate case in New York City, an 18-year-old suspect accused of pledging allegiance to ISIS was arrested after allegedly throwing an improvised explosive device into a crowd of protesters. Authorities have not established any confirmed connection between either incident and the Iranian government. The latest concerns also follow an FBI warning issued to law enforcement agencies in California, cautioning that Iran could attempt retaliatory drone attacks targeting the West Coast in response to ongoing U.S. military actions overseas ⚠️🌍
