Iran sent out a possible “operational trigger” to activate “sleeper assets” abroad after the war with America and Israel began, according to an encrypted message intercepted by the US.
The coded signal was sent out following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28, with the message appearing to hold instructions for “covert operatives or sleeper assets,” ABC News reported, citing a federal alert sent to law enforcement agencies.
The message could “be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country,” the alert warned.
The US warning said intelligence had detected a broadcast station repeatedly transmitting a message to multiple countries outside Iran, according to ABC.
“While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness,” the memo said.
The alert also noted that the transmission that was intercepted was “likely of Iranian origin.”
Law enforcement agencies have been called to increase their monitoring of suspicious radio frequencies after the message was intercepted.
While there are no specific credible threats to the public as of yet, counterintelligence experts have warned of the potential for revenge attacks on US soil as a result of the war in Iran.
“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,” Chris Swecker, a former assistant FBI director, told Fox News after the war began.
FBI Director Kash Patel has said US counterterrorism and intelligence agents were placed on high alert, with his teams “working 24/7, as always, to address and disrupt any potential threats” on US soil.
A day after the war began, Ndiaga Diagne, 53, of Senegal, opened fire at a packed Austin bar, killing two people and injuring 14 others.
Investigators are probing whether Diagne was motivated by the war in Iran since the suspect was wearing a shirt with an Iranian flag design on it under a hoodie printed with “Property of Allah.”
Two teens from Pennsylvania also allegedly threw an explosive device at an anti-Islam protest outside Gracie Mansion in New York City.
Law enforcement sources told The Post that the teens have possible ties to ISIS.
