U.S. intelligence officials have intercepted a mysterious encrypted transmission believed to have originated in Iran — a signal that federal authorities warn could potentially serve as an operational trigger for sleeper agents positioned outside the country, ABC News reports.

According to a federal alert circulated to law enforcement agencies, analysts detected what they describe as a coded communication of “likely Iranian origin” that was broadcast across multiple countries shortly after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The intercepted message was heavily encrypted and appeared designed for “clandestine recipients” who possess the proper encryption key, the alert said. Such transmissions are often used by intelligence services to quietly relay instructions to covert operatives or sleeper agents without relying on the internet or cellular networks, which can be more easily monitored.

Officials say the signal was transmitted using radio-frequency technology capable of being rebroadcast internationally — a method historically associated with covert communications systems intended to reach operatives scattered across different countries.

“It’s possible the transmissions could be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country,” the alert warned.

For now, however, authorities emphasize that the meaning of the message remains unknown.

“While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness,” the notice states.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)