Federal investigators alerted local police departments nationwide about heightened security concerns regarding Iran’s government targeting American interests, contradicting the White House’s public stance that minimized such risks, according to an intelligence document obtained by Reuters.
The March 20 intelligence bulletin, distributed by the FBI and federal security agencies, stated that Iran’s leadership “poses a persistent threat” to American military personnel, government facilities, Jewish and Israeli organizations, and Iranian opposition figures living in the United States. However, investigators noted they had not detected widespread dangers to ordinary citizens.
When reporters questioned President Donald Trump on March 11 about potential Iranian strikes within America’s borders, he responded, “No, I’m not” worried about such attacks.
The former president intensified his confrontational language this week, declaring Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran complied with his ultimatum, though he subsequently postponed the threatened military action for two weeks.
The intelligence assessment, labeled “Public Safety Awareness Report,” emerged following earlier reports that the administration had prevented similar security briefings from reaching the public. Officials at that time claimed they were reviewing materials for accuracy before distribution.
“The entire Trump administration is working together to protect the homeland and the American people – as they always do,” stated White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. “Media outlets should not attempt to irresponsibly sow fear by reporting on individual law enforcement memorandums that may lack broader context.”
Neither the FBI nor the National Counterterrorism Center provided immediate responses to media inquiries. Ali Karimi Magham, representing Iran’s United Nations mission, refused to offer comments.
Public opinion polling reveals most Americans want swift conclusion to military involvement, with two-thirds supporting rapid disengagement according to recent Reuters/Ipsos surveys, making threat assessments particularly significant for policy decisions.
The transparency organization Property of the People secured the FBI document through freedom of information requests and provided it to Reuters.
The assessment emphasized “the potential for elevated physical threats” against American targets from Iranian operatives following recent conflict developments.
“Violent extremists with a variety of ideological backgrounds, including those who oppose the U.S. or Israel, also may see this conflict as a justification for violence,” investigators wrote.
According to the report, Iranian intelligence services have previously attempted kidnapping and assassination operations against Americans. While firearms represent the most common attack method on American soil, other documented tactics included “stabbings, vehicle rammings, bombings, poisoning, strangling, suffocation, and arson.”
Tehran typically recruits individuals already possessing legal American residency or entry privileges for such operations, the document revealed. Iranian authorities have previously monitored social media platforms, live video streams, and mapping software to identify targets and evaluate security vulnerabilities, while also employing cyber attacks including fraudulent email schemes.
The Iranian government “also has attempted to lure victims to other countries geographically closer to Iran, almost certainly for kidnapping and eventual executions,” the assessment warned.
The bulletin advised law enforcement personnel to maintain heightened awareness for suspicious activities and coordinate with federal investigators when concerns arise.
