US Intelligence Intercepts Iran Communique Regarding Sleeper Cells
U.S. intelligence agencies are reviewing an encrypted communication believed to have originated inside Iran that may have been intended for covert operatives abroad, according to an alert reported by ABC News.
The message was described by officials as a possible “operational trigger” directed at what analysts refer to as sleeper assets — individuals embedded in foreign countries who maintain low profiles until receiving instructions.
The transmission was detected shortly after the reported killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike in Tehran on Feb. 28. Iranian authorities later elevated his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, to the position of supreme leader.
According to the intelligence alert, the encrypted signal was transmitted across multiple countries and flagged by U.S. monitoring systems. Analysts assessed that the communication was likely of Iranian origin and may have been intended for clandestine recipients who could decode the message using predetermined passcodes.
Officials said the transmission showed characteristics consistent with “international rebroadcast characteristics,” which can be used to distribute coded instructions over long distances without relying on internet-based communications.
The alert indicated that the transmissions resemble methods historically used to convey instructions to “covert operatives or sleeper assets” without relying on internet communications.
The signals could “be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country,” the alert said, according to ABC News.
Concerns among security officials have increased regarding the potential presence of Iranian sleeper cells within the United States, especially as the conflict enters its second week.
Last year, the Daily Mail reported on what it termed a “passport pipeline” involving operatives linked to Iran traveling through Venezuela before reaching Western countries. This pathway could allow networks to establish a foothold close to the U.S.
Tensions have escalated as fighting intensifies between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Relations between Washington and Jerusalem have reportedly become strained after Israeli forces bombed Iranian oil depots. This action raised alarms among White House officials, who fear that such strikes could lead to an increase in gasoline prices for Americans.
Security experts caution that the threat could stem from both lone individuals sympathetic to Tehran and organized sleeper networks that are waiting for orders to act.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, former adviser to the Department of Homeland Security and Secret Service supervisor Charles Marino stated that the United States could be facing a “convergence” of threats.
“Is it possible you have 10, 15, 20 people in the country that are part of a cell that then go out and carry out simultaneous or near-simultaneous attacks? Yes,” Marino said.
He cautioned that terrorists aiming for the highest number of casualties would likely target “soft” locations, such as concerts, sporting events, public venues, and other crowded gatherings.
One significant concern is the upcoming World Cup, which has been classified as a National Special Security Event and is anticipated to attract large international crowds.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt praised President Trump’s military actions against Iran over the weekend, describing the administration’s efforts as “a resounding success” following what officials said were threats to U.S. security amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Leavitt made the remarks as the United States continues operations under Operation Epic Fury, a campaign aimed at Iranian missile facilities, nuclear program, and leadership.
“Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the rogue Iranian terrorist regime is being absolutely crushed,” Leavitt said during a news briefing on Wednesday afternoon, adding that more than 2,000 targets have been hit so far. “Iran’s murderous, terrorist leaders are paying for their crimes against America — and they are paying in blood.”
Leavitt also said that Trump is “correcting decades of cowardice” regarding U.S. foreign policy towards Iran, adding that the current commander-in-chief is committed to eliminating the threat once and for all.
“President Trump is finally the man of action. President Trump does not bluff,” she said.
Nearly 150,000 California Mail Ballots Rejected In Primary
California election officials are examining why nearly 150,000 mail-in ballots were rejected during the state’s June primary, with late-arriving ballots accounting for most of the increase.
The higher rejection rate comes despite years of election law changes designed to make voting more accessible and ensure more ballots are ultimately counted.
According to data compiled by the California Secretary of State’s office, 148,241 mail-in ballots were rejected during the June primary, representing 1.73% of all mail ballots returned.
That marks an increase from the 2024 primary, when 108,982 ballots were rejected, or 1.56% of all mail ballots cast.
The largest reason for rejection was ballots arriving too late to qualify under California law.
State data shows that 93,479 ballots were rejected because they failed to meet the state’s deadline requirements.
California allows mail ballots to arrive up to seven days after Election Day, provided they are postmarked on or before Election Day.
Voting experts believe many of the rejected ballots received postmarks dated after Election Day, making them ineligible to be counted even if they arrived within the seven-day grace period.
Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, said the timing of postal processing appears to be a significant concern.
“Ballots rejected due to lateness are caused primarily to being postmarked too late to count, not because they arrived too late to count,” Alexander said.
Election experts have questioned whether recent operational changes within the U.S. Postal Service may be contributing to delayed postmarks.
Earlier this year, a group of mostly Democratic U.S. senators wrote to the Postal Service expressing concern that mail-processing changes could affect ballot handling during federal elections.
Updated Postal Service procedures mean postmarks may reflect when mail is processed at regional facilities rather than when it first enters the mail system.
Because processing centers have been consolidated in some areas, election officials have warned that postmark timing could be affected.
Before the June primary, California election officials encouraged voters to mail ballots as early as possible because of potential postal delays.
The June election also featured a highly competitive race for governor, which some experts believe encouraged many voters to wait until the final days before casting ballots.
In addition to late-arriving ballots, approximately 44,000 ballots were rejected because election officials determined the voter’s signature did not match the signature on file.
Another 8,300 ballots were rejected because the return envelope did not contain a signature.
State records also show that 743 ballots were rejected because those voters had already cast another ballot.
Other rejected ballots involved missing ballots inside return envelopes or multiple ballots submitted in a single envelope.
The highest rejection rate in the state occurred in Tulare County, where 3.52% of returned mail ballots were rejected.
Alpine County and Merced County followed closely, each recording rejection rates of 3.36%.
California has frequently faced criticism for taking weeks to complete vote counting after major elections, largely because state law permits ballots meeting certain requirements to continue arriving after Election Day.
Following the June primary, President Donald Trump again criticized California’s election system, while the Department of Justice opened an investigation into election administration in Los Angeles County.
Election experts emphasize that the increase in rejected ballots should not be interpreted as evidence of widespread voter fraud.
A 2025 report by the Brookings Institution found documented cases of mail ballot fraud remained extremely rare, estimating roughly four cases for every 10 million mail ballots cast, The Associated Press reported.
State officials have not identified evidence of widespread fraud connected to the June primary, but the increase in rejected ballots is expected to receive additional scrutiny as election administrators evaluate whether changes in postal operations, voter behavior or election procedures contributed to the higher rejection rate.
