Nationwide Manhunt Underway as Authorities Uncover Alleged Iranian Plot to Infiltrate U.S. with Terrorists

Washington, D.C. – August 6, 2025 – A frantic manhunt is sweeping across the United States as federal authorities race to uncover the extent of a chilling Iranian scheme allegedly designed to flood the nation with potential terrorists using fraudulent Venezuelan passports. The alarming plot, revealed exclusively by the Daily Mail, has sparked heightened security measures and raised urgent questions about border vulnerabilities and international coordination with hostile regimes.

The operation reportedly involves close collaboration between Iran and Venezuela, with evidence pointing to a sophisticated campaign orchestrated by Tehran in partnership with Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. According to a leaked document obtained by the Daily Mail, over 10,400 individuals from Iran, Syria, and Lebanon were allegedly issued Venezuelan passports between 2010 and 2019, despite not qualifying for citizenship. These passports, which grant visa-free access to several Latin American countries, are suspected to have enabled potential terrorist operatives to move closer to U.S. borders undetected.

The revelation comes in the wake of U.S. airstrikes in late June 2025 targeting three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, a move that prompted warnings from defense officials about Tehran’s potential to retaliate through sleeper agents embedded within the U.S. homeland. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxy groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas, are believed to have long sought to place operatives in American communities, poised to activate on command.

A whistleblower, identified as a former Venezuelan official, provided the document to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) months ago, claiming it details the identities, passport numbers, and countries of origin of individuals involved in the scheme. The source alleges that DHS is actively working to track down those listed, though a DHS spokesperson declined to confirm receipt of the document or comment on efforts to counter potential sleeper cells.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data adds to the concern, reporting 382 encounters at the southwest border with individuals on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist between 2010 and 2019, alongside 1,504 Iranian nationals apprehended illegally, most of whom were released into the U.S. to await immigration hearings. The FBI has since intensified its counterterrorism efforts, directing field offices to assist DHS with immigration enforcement and prioritize notable arrests following the June strikes.

Thor Halvorssen, a former Venezuelan ambassador, pointed to Ghazi Nasr Al-Din, Venezuela’s former acting ambassador in Syria, as a key figure allegedly overseeing the issuance of these passports. Halvorssen’s claims underscore longstanding ties between Tehran and Caracas, with a State Department official acknowledging, “It’s been widely reported ties the [Maduro] dictatorship has with Iran. It’s not a secret.”

The plot has heightened fears of Iran’s global reach, with the regime’s history of leveraging proxies like Hezbollah for attacks well-documented. A 2019 State Department report highlighted Iran’s support for terrorist groups, including funding, training, and weapons for Hezbollah, Hamas, and others, while a 2025 DHS operation arrested 11 Iranian nationals illegally in the U.S., including one with admitted ties to Hezbollah.

Security experts warn that the alleged passport scheme could exploit vulnerabilities in U.S. border security, particularly along the southwest border, where over 380,000 Venezuelan nationals were encountered between January 2021 and October 2023. The operation has prompted calls for stricter immigration enforcement and greater scrutiny of international travel networks.

As the manhunt intensifies, federal officials are urging the public to remain vigilant. The FBI emphasized its commitment to disrupting Iranian intelligence operations, stating, “We will continue to work diligently to thwart Iran’s violent agenda and use all available authorities to investigate criminal actions.” With the nation on edge, the unfolding investigation promises to test the resilience of U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the face of an evolving global threat.

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