The United States is actively monitoring suspected Iranian sleeper cells operating on American soil. That's according to President Trump himself, who addressed the issue directly at a news conference on March 9 — though he kept the specifics pretty close to the chest.

"They've been trying for a long time, and we've been very much on top of it," Trump said when asked whether Iran had activated undercover operatives inside the country. "We're watching every single one of them. We know a lot about them."

Bold words. But what's actually going on behind them?

First — What Even Is a Sleeper Cell?

The term gets thrown around a lot, but here's the simple version: a sleeper cell is a group of undercover operatives embedded inside enemy territory, lying low and waiting for orders to act. Think of it like a light switch. They're dormant — blending in, doing nothing suspicious — until someone flips it.

That activation signal could come in the form of encrypted communications, a coded message, or a direct order from a handler. At that point, the "sleepers" wake up and carry out whatever mission they were planted to execute. That could mean espionage, assassination, or a coordinated attack.

What's the Actual Threat Here?

Context matters. The U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, and that has everyone on edge. Its been reported that officials intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran — communications that may function as an "operational trigger" for sleeper assets already positioned outside the country. That alert was sent directly to law enforcement agencies.

The FBI and DHS had reportedly already shifted to a war footing even before the strikes began, with heightened alert levels going back to last June when the U.S. and Israel bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.

Neither the FBI nor DHS commented publicly on Trump's remarks.

Iran's Track Record on U.S. Soil

This isn't paranoia pulled from thin air. Iran has a documented history — spanning at least 46 years — of plotting assassinations and terrorist operations against Americans, both on U.S. soil and abroad.

In recent years alone, the threat has been direct and personal. Following the 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Iran allegedly plotted to assassinate both Trump and his former national security adviser John Bolton in retaliation.

And just last week, a federal jury convicted Iranian operative Asif Raza Merchant on March 6 for his role in a terrorism plot — including a scheme to assassinate Trump in 2024. That conviction came well before the current war with Iran even started.

The pattern is clear: Iran doesn't just make threats. It has operatives, it has networks, and it follows through.

Who's Actually Responsible for Stopping Them?

The FBI is the lead agency when it comes to investigating and preventing both domestic and international terrorism on U.S. soil. That part doesn't change.

Trump also took a swipe at Democrats during his remarks, claiming that a funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security was hampering his administration's ability to address the sleeper cell threat. It's worth noting, though, that the DHS funding lapse has primarily hit agencies like FEMA, TSA, and Customs and Border Protection. Core DHS operations — including ICE — have largely continued running. The sleeper cell monitoring apparatus, in other words, isn't exactly running on fumes.

Still, the administration has not released any formal public advisory detailing specific threats from Iranian or Iran-aligned cells since the conflict began. Whether that's because the threat hasn't reached that level of specificity, or because they're keeping cards close to avoid tipping off targets — that part isn't clear.

Why This Matters Right Now

The U.S. is in an active military conflict with Iran. That is not a normal situation, and the ripple effects of that reality are already being felt domestically. Law enforcement agencies are on high alert. Intercepted communications are being analyzed. A jury just convicted an Iranian operative who was already trying to kill the president before a single bomb dropped.

Sleeper cells aren't a new concept and Iran's use of them isn't a new tactic. What's new is the temperature. An active war raises the stakes on both sides, and the likelihood that dormant assets get activated goes up significantly when a country feels it's under direct military assault.

Trump says the administration has it handled. Federal agencies are watching.

For now, that's about all the public is going to get.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.