Iran ‘threatened Trump with sleeper-cell revenge terrorist attacks inside the United States' days before nuclear strikes
Iran threatened US President Donald Trump that it would activate sleeper cell terror attacks across the United States if he dropped a bomb on nuclear targets when he was at the G7 according to fresh US reports.
The shock reports raise questions over whether this was the real reason that the US President left in a hurry cancelling talks with a string of world leaders including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
NBC has reported overnight that Iran sent a communiqué to Trump in the days before Sunday's shock strikes on its nuclear facilities threatening to activate sleeper-cell terror.
The report revealed the message got to Trump through an intermediary at the Group of Seven summit in Canada last week.
He then left early June 16 to hold talks with defence officials in the United States and ramped up his rhetoric about the threat posed by Iran.
It was in the days after he left the G7 that he slammed US intelligence sources claiming Iran's plan to build a nuclear bomb was not imminent.
NBC reported on Monday that the White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the sleeper cell threat, and the Iranian Mission to the United Nations declined to comment.
Donald Trump has now issued a warning on social media that any Iranian retaliation against the United States 'WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT.'
US officials remain on high alert for any potential retaliation inside the United States with the Department of Homeland Security warning in a statement today that the 'Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States.'
The statement said there could be an increased possibility of terrorist attacks 'if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland.'
There are also warnings over the risk of cyberattacks on U.S. networks that could seek to target current and former U.S. government officials.
US officials are on red alert over the threat of sleeper cells in the U.S. amid warnings that the risks have 'never been higher.'
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) warned in a memo sent Saturday from CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, obtained NewsNation, that 'thousands of Iranian nationals have been documented entering the United States illegally and countless more were likely in the known and unknown got-a-ways.'
'Though we have not received any specific credible threats to share with you all currently, the threat of sleeper cells or sympathizers acting on their own, or at the behest of Iran has never been higher,' Mr Scott added.
The memo urged CBP personnel to remain 'vigilant.'
NewsNation correspondent Rich McHugh said Friday on the network that 'experts that we've talked to said that should the U.S. join these strikes against Iran, they may try to activate these sleeper cells in the U.S. and the West.'
On Sunday, retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the former commander of U.S. Central Command, said that he believed U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria were 'certainly vulnerable' to retaliatory attacks by Iran.
PM addresses sleepr cell threat
Speaking in Canberra, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded directly to the sleeper threat and the risk of terror attacks on Americans and here in Australia.
'Precisely why we're calling for a de-escalation,'' he replied. 'Obviously we're opposed to any action against Australians or indeed against anyone else.
'What we want to see as President Trump has said is peace going forward. There's an opportunity for that to occur.'
Asked about potential sleeper cells in Australia, the Prime Minister said that there was no change to the current threat level.
'Look...the ASIO Director-General and our security intelligence agencies are constantly engaged in monitoring,'' he replied.
'There's been no change in any of the advice that has been issued.'
He also appeared to confirm Australia was taken by surprise by the attacks stressing it was 'unilateral' and that he was not warned by US authorities about the top secret mission.
UK Prime Minister Keif Starmer has previously noted his Government was given prior warning of the US action in Iran but it had also been directly involved in negotiations with Iran, unlike Australia.
'The UK has been one of the countries that's been at the negotiating table with Iran for many years on its nuclear weapons program,'' Mr Albanese said.
'This was unilateral action.'
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