Iranian Military Veteran Arrested in Alabama Amid Fears of Sleeper Cells After U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate

Federal authorities have confirmed the arrest of Ribvar Karimi, an Iranian national and former soldier in the Iranian Army, amid growing national security concerns tied to rising tensions between Iran and the United States. Karimi’s arrest in Locust, Alabama, occurred just days after Iran vowed retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes on three Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

Karimi, who previously served four years in the Iranian Army, had entered the U.S. on a K-1 visa—typically granted to foreign nationals engaged to American citizens. According to officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Karimi never adjusted his immigration status, violating the terms of his visa and making him subject to deportation. Agents reportedly found him in possession of an identification card connecting him to the Iranian military.

Heightened Alert Amid Ceasefire

Although President Donald Trump has since announced a ceasefire with Iran, homeland security and counterterrorism agencies remain on high alert. Officials have warned that actors linked to Iran could attempt domestic attacks in retaliation for the military strikes.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the department is intensifying efforts to find and remove individuals with potential ties to terrorism.

“We’ve been operating at full speed under Secretary Noem to arrest known or suspected extremists—especially those who slipped through under the previous administration,” McLaughlin said. “This is about preemptive action, not waiting for something to go wrong.”

Broader Operation Targets Extremist Watchlist

Karimi’s arrest was part of a broader multi-state operation, which also led to the detention of Mehran Makari Sahel in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sahel, a former member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reportedly acknowledged ties to Hezbollah during questioning. While neither Karimi nor Sahel is confirmed to have been plotting any imminent attacks, both are now in federal custody pending further investigation.

The operation spanned eight states and focused on so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions where cooperation with federal immigration enforcement has been limited in the past.

Sleeper Cell Concerns Raised in Florida

The concern over Iranian sleeper cells gained traction after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) revealed that Florida authorities recently intercepted a boat carrying Iranian nationals attempting to land on the state’s coastline. The number of individuals onboard remains unconfirmed.

“This is not a conspiracy theory,” Luna said in a statement. “It’s a real national security threat. The timing is too close to ignore.”

Warnings from Homeland Security

Following the arrests and rising fears of reprisal, DHS released a bulletin warning that violent extremists could be motivated to act if Iran’s leadership calls for retaliation on U.S. soil. The advisory also included warnings about potential cyberattacks and an uptick in antisemitic hate crimes.

“The current Israel-Iran conflict brings an elevated risk to the homeland,” DHS stated. “It’s our responsibility to keep the nation informed and safe in these volatile times.”

The agency emphasized that its focus is on proactive threat detection, with particular attention to individuals who may have exploited previous visa and immigration programs to enter the U.S.