Trump administration boosts monitoring of attainable Iran-backed cells in U.S., as Trump weighs strikes, sources say
As President Trump is considering potential U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear services, legislation enforcement officers have stepped up surveillance of Iran-backed operatives in america, a number of sources informed CBS Information.
FBI Director Kash Patel has elevated efforts to observe attainable home sleeper cells linked to Hezbollah — a U.S.-designated international terrorist group backed by Iran — since Israel’s Operation Rising Lion offensive started earlier this month, U.S. officers mentioned.
Each the White Home and FBI declined to remark.
The risk from Iranian operatives has apprehensive present and former administration officers since Iranian Common Qasem Soleimani was assassinated on Mr. Trump’s orders in January 2020.
Late final yr, federal prosecutors charged an operative of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and two U.S.-based individuals with plotting to surveil and assassinate critics of the Iranian regime. The IRGC operative allegedly informed investigators he was pushed by unnamed IRGC officers to plan an assault in opposition to Mr. Trump.
For years, U.S. legislation enforcement and intelligence officers have been involved about Iran’s capability to direct or encourage assaults inside america — a priority that has ramped up since Soleimani’s killing. The FBI, Division of Homeland Safety and others have devoted important assets to countering the risk.
There are a selection of potential targets. Lately, prosecutors have charged individuals with plotting to kill Mr. Trump’s former nationwide safety adviser John Bolton and Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad, each of whom are frequent critics of Iran’s authorities. Bolton was granted Secret Service safety in 2021, however Mr. Trump revoked his safety this yr.
Mr. Trump is contemplating whether or not to strike Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, becoming a member of Israel’s weeklong marketing campaign in opposition to Iranian nuclear and army targets, CBS Information has beforehand reported. White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned Thursday the president will decide inside the subsequent two weeks, citing “a considerable likelihood of negotiation that will or might not happen” with Iran.
Iran has threatened to retaliate if the U.S. decides to strike.
