After Khamenei’s death, Iran sent signal to activate sleeper cells

While no immediate threat to specific locations has been identified, law enforcement agencies are advised to monitor suspicious activity. President Donald Trump said the US is closely tracking the situation 

American intelligence agencies have intercepted encrypted communications from Iran that may be intended to activate sleeper operatives abroad, according to a federal alert reviewed by ABC News. The signals were detected shortly after the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli operation. 

Analysts said the transmissions were “likely of Iranian origin” and highlighted their unusual rebroadcast pattern across multiple countries, prompting heightened monitoring. The messages were encrypted and intended for recipients with a decryption key –a method that allows instructions to be sent without using the internet or cellular networks 

According to the alert, the communications could be “intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country 

Although the exact content of the signals remains unknown, authorities noted that the sudden appearance of a new international rebroadcast station warrants increased vigilance. Officials stressed that the alert does not point to any immediate threat to a specific location but advised law enforcement agencies to step up monitoring of suspicious radio-frequency activity. 

ESCALATING HOSTILITIES IN IRAN AND REGION 

The intelligence comes as the conflict between Iran and Israel continues. Israel carried out fresh strikes on central Iran and Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut on Monday, following attacks on oil depots in Tehran. Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and nations hosting US forces in the region 

On Sunday, two foreign nationals, including an Indian citizen, were killed in Saudi Arabia after a projectile hit a residential area. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations reported that at least 1,332 civilians have died in the fighting, with thousands more wounded. Meanwhile, the US confirmed the death of a seventh American soldier from conflict-related injuries. 

TRUMP SAYS US WILL “GO FURTHER” 

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States is “very much on top” of tracking whether Iran has activated sleeper cells abroad. 

He said that the US military operation in Iran is “ahead of our initial timeline by a lot” and could be deemed successful, but that actions will continue. He added that US forces have begun targeting Iran’s drone-manufacturing capabilities, leading to an 83% decline in drone launches. 

Asked about the attack on an Iranian girls’ school, Trump said the incident is under investigation.