U.S. intelligence officials are warning law enforcement agencies to stay alert after intercepting encrypted communications believed to be linked to Iran and possibly connected to covert operatives outside the country. According to a federal alert circulated to law enforcement and reviewed by ABC News, analysts detected a transmission believed to originate from Iran that may serve as what officials describe as “an operational trigger” for sleeper cells operating internationally. The signal was reportedly intercepted shortly after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28.
Officials say the transmission appeared to move through multiple countries before reaching its intended recipients. Intelligence analysts believe the message was encrypted and designed to be received only by individuals with the correct decoding key.
Authorities say this type of system allows instructions to reach covert networks without relying on internet infrastructure or cellular communications. The alert explains that the message may have been directed toward “clandestine recipients” and structured in a way commonly used to relay orders to sleeper agents already positioned abroad.
“It’s possible the transmissions could ‘be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country,’” the alert stated.
Investigators have not determined the exact contents of the communication. However, analysts noted unusual characteristics in the signal that raised concern.
“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 alert said.
Federal officials emphasized that there is currently “no operational threat tied to a specific location.” Still, the notice encourages law enforcement agencies to increase monitoring of suspicious radio-frequency activity.
Security officials have long warned that sleeper networks could potentially be used for retaliation following military actions involving Iran, though authorities say the situation remains under close review as intelligence analysis continues.
