Overview
- A federal alert reviewed by ABC News says preliminary signals analysis found an encrypted transmission likely of Iranian origin relayed internationally shortly after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death.
- The broadcast appeared aimed at clandestine recipients with decryption keys and could be intended to activate or guide prepositioned sleeper assets outside Iran.
- Officials report the contents have not been decoded and emphasize there is no operational threat tied to a specific location at this time.
- Law enforcement agencies were instructed to heighten vigilance, particularly for suspicious radio‑frequency activity and a newly observed station with international rebroadcast characteristics.
- U.S. counterterrorism posture has been elevated, with FBI Director Kash Patel ordering teams to high alert, and partners abroad reporting actions such as Qatar’s detention of suspected IRGC‑linked cells.