Following joint attacks by the United States and Israel that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking officials of the Iranian regime last weekend, international security and terrorism experts are issuing serious warnings about a threat that may be hidden within American territory itself
They claim that sleeper cells linked to the Iranian government represent a real and very serious danger, capable of causing significant damage on American soil.
A sleeper cell is a group of people or agents who live discreetly, often integrated into society, awaiting orders to act.
In the case of Iran, these groups are not necessarily made up of Iranian citizens.
Instead, the regime often resorts to existing networks, such as transnational criminal organizations, to carry out operations.
Experts explain that Iran outsources violent actions, taking advantage of contacts with drug traffickers from Venezuela and Bolivia, or with cartels from other countries, to avoid leaving direct traces.
History shows that this strategy is not new.
In 2011, American authorities thwarted an Iranian plan to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington, in which the regime hired members of Mexican cartels to carry out the attack.
Another striking example occurred in 1994 in Buenos Aires, when a bomb destroyed the AMIA Jewish community center, killing 85 people and injuring more than 300.
An Argentine court, in a recent 2024 decision, attributed responsibility to Iran and the Hezbollah group, highlighting that the attack was carried out by Lebanese emigrants recruited for the mission.
Michael Rubin, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum, describes the situation as extremely worrying.
According to him, the Iranians tend to attack precisely where the defense is weakest.
He warns that Iranian-Americans traveling to Iran are often interrogated by authorities, who examine their cell phones and computers for information that could be used for future blackmail.
Rubin suspects that the regime may target leaders of the Jewish community in the United States, such as rabbis or prominent figures, because, for the Iranian government, there is no clear distinction between Judaism and the State of Israel.
The goal would be to demonstrate strength and retaliate in a significant way.
Jason Brodsky, policy director of the organization United Against Nuclear Iran, reinforces that the regime has been trying for years to build networks and operational capabilities within the United States, ready to be activated when the leadership in Tehran decides.
Although American security forces have managed to thwart several plots with the help of international allies, the threat remains serious.
Iran maintains ties with criminal groups that could be activated for actions in the country.
Brodsky mentions that the regime itself sanctioned him and his organization, including with attempted cyberattacks and direct threats-something he sees as a “badge of honor,” given the repressive nature of the Iranian government, which recently was responsible for a massacre that killed approximately 32,000 people in a few days, a number comparable to the horrors of Nazi Germany.
American authorities are aware of the risk.
Kash Patel, director of the FBI, stated that he has instructed all counterterrorism and intelligence teams to maintain the highest level of alert, mobilizing all available resources to prevent any attack on national territory.
Similarly, Kristi Noem, US Secretary of Homeland Security, reported being in direct and constant contact with intelligence and law enforcement agencies to closely monitor and neutralize any potential threat to national security.
Despite these measures, experts highlight a problem: while terrorists think creatively and “outside the box,” traditional security structures are not always able to anticipate innovative or patient approaches.
One example cited is the 2022 attack against writer Salman Rushdie, which resulted in serious injuries and partial loss of vision-a case that caught many by surprise.
Because sleeper cells are, by definition, hidden, no one knows exactly how many exist or where they are located.
The current moment is considered unprecedented for the American Jewish community, which may face greater risks than ever before.
Experts conclude that everyone needs to take this possibility seriously and remain vigilant.
Security forces may be in control for now, but the Iranian regime’s strategic patience and willingness to use proxies and indirect networks demand heightened attention.
The danger is not merely hypothetical: it reflects patterns of behavior already demonstrated by Iran over the decades.
Published in 03/04/2026 08h04
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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