REPORT: US Finds Suspected Iranian ‘Sleeper Assets’ Trigger

The U.S. reportedly intercepted “an operational trigger” believed to have come from Iran that may be intended to activate “sleeper assets” outside of the nation.

An alert citing “preliminary signals analysis” was sent to multiple law enforcement agencies, according to ABC News, which reviewed the alert. The intercepted signal was reportedly sent to multiple nations following the killing of the former supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28.

The signal, “likely of Iranian origin,” was seemingly meant to be accessed by “covert operatives or sleeper assets” in possession of the encryption key without relying on the internet or cellular networks, according to the alert. (RELATED: More IEDs From Suspects In ‘ISIS-Inspired’ Attack Reportedly Found And Destroyed In Controlled Detonation)

The communication could have been “intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country,” the alert read, according to ABC.

However, the specifics of the message are reportedly unclear with “no operational threat tied to a specific location.” The alert accompanied a general warning to law enforcement telling them to increase reviews of suspicious radio-frequency activity, according to the outlet.

“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 read, according to ABC.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 01: Members of the FBI perform and local law enforcement investigate outside of Buford’s bar in downtown on March 01, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

A gunman allegedly killed three people in a March 1 shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, ABC30 reported. Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News’ Bill Melugin that the suspect wore clothes bearing the words “Property of Allah” and possibly an undershirt bearing the Iranian flag or other Iranian symbols. The sources alleged there was a potential connection to terrorism.

Two improvised explosive devices were also thrown at a rally in New York City on March 7, authorities said. Although neither bomb detonated, officials alleged that the attack was “ISIS-inspired.”

Although investigations continue, there has been no confirmation that either of these alleged attacks was coordinated by Iran or that the accused could have been “sleeper assets.”

Former Central Intelligence Agency field operative Darrell Blocker told ABC News that sleeper cell agents are often comfortable in the country in which they are embedded, although their priorities may be aligned with their country of origin.

“There are people that are completely embedded inside the United States,” Blocker said. “They live here, they work here, they are comfortable here, they speak the language here, but ultimately are waiting for some signal to go out and do some nefarious act.”

Although ABC did not identify which U.S. agency sent the alert, the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center did not reply to the Daily Caller’s request for confirmation.