Iranian-backed sleeper cells have infiltrated the US and ‘ready to strike’

Intelligence officials and security experts have warned on the existence of Iranian terrorist "sleeper cells" operating within the United States.

The warning was made by security experts at a hearing of the US Congressional Security Committee, asserting that Iranian terrorist networks were in the US waiting to receive orders to act.

The experts warned that Tehran could launch terrorist attacks targeting American interests at any moment, either through its cells or through its arm Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which is active in Latin American countries.

In Latin America, Hezbollah cells are openly active, which also means that Iran may take Latin America as an advanced launching pad for attacks on US territory or on Washington’s interests in the region when it wants, especially after threats by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to target the United States.

Intelligence officials and former White House officials have warned Congress that Iran could be planning to launch attacks against the United States.

“The answer is absolutely. We do face a threat,” said Emanuele Ottolenghi, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who spoke at a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee’s subcommittee on counterterrorism and intelligence. “Their networks are present in the United States.”

“Iran’s proxy terror networks in Latin America are run by Tehran’s wholly owned Lebanese franchise Hezbollah,” he said, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

“Their presence in Latin America must be viewed as a forward operating base against America’s interest in the region and the homeland itself.”

Ottolenghi said the sleeper agents enter America by posing as immigrants who develop legitimate businesses that are a front for their other activities.