Iran-Israel war news: Alarming reports claim sleeper cells may be deployed across western nations by Tehran
Iran sleeper cell threat
is once again under the spotlight as Western intelligence agencies raise alarm about Tehran's increasing desperation amid heavy Israeli strikes. With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei forced into hiding and Iran's military leadership in disarray, security experts warn that the regime could now resort to activating its global network of sleeper agents to retaliate. These individuals, embedded across Western nations, may receive orders to target public spaces, religious sites, or high-profile political figures — including U.S. President Donald Trump, who remains a top target due to his role in the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
Could Iran's sleeper cells be waiting for a signal to attack in the West?
Security analysts fear that Iranian sleeper cells, long suspected to be lying low in Western nations, could be preparing for activation. Barak Seener, a defense analyst at the Henry Jackson Society, told
The Sun
that Tehran's vulnerability may make it more dangerous than ever. 'They live amongst us in regular communities… when given the signal, they already know what they are going to be doing,' Seener said.
This comes at a time when Iran's top military command has been dismantled by Israeli strikes. With nuclear facilities under attack and missile stockpiles destroyed, asymmetric warfare through hidden operatives may be Iran's only remaining card. Targets could include embassies, public infrastructure, synagogues, or even dirty bomb attacks in urban areas like Central London.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Was there really a plot to assassinate President Trump?
Yes, and it wasn't a vague threat. Last year, U.S. prosecutors charged Iranian national Farhad Shakeri with plotting the assassination of then-President-elect Donald Trump. According to the charges, Shakeri was instructed by an IRGC official to prepare a seven-day plan to carry out surveillance and potentially kill Trump as revenge for ordering the drone strike that killed IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton confirmed that Trump remains 'at the top' of Iran's assassination list. The attack would have sparked a global crisis, and experts say it signals how far Iran is willing to go to exact revenge on perceived enemies.
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How many Iran-linked plots have been uncovered in the UK?
At least 15 Iran-linked terror plots, including kidnappings and assassination attempts, have been disrupted in the UK in recent years, according to counter-terrorism officials. MI5 has warned of a 'sharp rise' in threats against Iranian dissidents, especially following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks that heightened tensions in the Middle East.
In 2023, journalist Pouria Zeraati was stabbed outside his London home. He had been reporting on human rights abuses by the Iranian regime for Iran International. UK police believe the attackers were Iranian proxy agents who fled the country within hours of the assault. Zeraati called the attack a 'warning shot' from Tehran.
Why hasn't the UK officially declared the IRGC a terrorist group?
Despite mounting pressure, the British government has not yet formally designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Critics, including analyst Barak Seener, argue that this loophole allows IRGC-linked operatives to operate within mosques, charities, and community centers in the UK, some of which have directors appointed directly by Khamenei.
Kasra Aarabi of United Against Nuclear Iran stated: 'The IRGC is the most antisemitic armed Islamist extremist organization in the world. The failure to proscribe it is putting British lives at risk.'
MI5 reports that since 2022, there have been 20 IRGC-backed plots targeting individuals on UK soil.
Is Iran preparing for a new wave of global terror?
Intelligence sources across Europe and the U.S. fear that Iran is preparing to unleash a global campaign of terror as retaliation for ongoing military losses and international isolation. The IRGC supports groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, both already designated terrorist organizations in the UK and U.S. But experts warn Iran might now take direct action through sleeper agents in the West.
Reporters Without Borders found that nearly 50% of journalists covering Iran from the UK reported physical or verbal threats, with some receiving anthrax hoaxes or threats targeting their families. A female journalist was even threatened on a London bus with the chilling words: 'We will kill you.'
Major General Hossein Salami of the IRGC warned in 2022: 'You've tried us before. Watch out because we're coming for you.' This threat now feels more urgent than ever as the regime's stability crumbles.
What's at stake for Western nations?
With Iran's regime increasingly cornered and under siege from Israeli forces, the potential activation of sleeper cells across Europe and the U.S. could lead to a sharp spike in domestic terror threats. These operatives, trained and guided by the IRGC, may see their mission as martyrdom — not just revenge.
The stakes are high. Experts say this isn't just about regional conflict anymore. It's a global security challenge — one that could see targets as high-profile as President Trump or as commonplace as journalists, dissidents, or local places of worship.
And unless governments act swiftly — particularly the UK — to label the IRGC as a terrorist group and cut off its influence networks, more lives may be at risk.
FAQs:
Q1. What is the Iran sleeper cell threat in the West?
Iran may activate sleeper agents in Western countries to carry out terrorist attacks if it feels cornered.
Q2. Why is President Trump a target in Iran's terror plot?
Iran reportedly plotted to assassinate President Trump in revenge for killing General Soleimani in 2020.
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