ICE Busts Eleven Illegal Iranian Nationals on US Soil in Heightened Terror Threat to America (Video)

It looks like Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem meant it when she said that she was going to nail Iranian terrorists before they get a chance to carry out terrorist attacks on US soil. Over the last 48 hours, eleven Iranians who are here illegally have been taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

(Video Credit: CBS News)

DHS/ICE Target Illegal Iranians Across the Country

The multi-state operation specifically targeted Iranians, looking to nip terror cells in the bud as the threat of terrorism intensifies in America.

“Under Secretary Noem, DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden’s fraudulent parole programs, or otherwise,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement given to National Review.

“We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don’t wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump’s mandate to secure the homeland,” she added.

On Monday, Noem told reporters that Homeland Security was attempting to “get in front of” threats to the US by “working with our local governors and law enforcement to make sure that they recognize potential threats or suspicious activities.”

When asked about potential Hezbollah sleeper cells, Noem said that the US has seen “some [that have] gone overseas for a short period of time, become radicalized and come back.” She noted, “We have to watch for all of it, and to be diligent on all of it, and we’ll continue to do so.”

Illegal Iranians are a Threat to the Homeland

The list of those busted across eight states is disturbing, but in reality, there could be many, many more out there that have not been caught.

A former Iranian army sniper named Ribvar Karimi was taken into custody by an ICE agent in Alabama on June 22. He had an Iranian army identification card and entered the US on October 24 under a K-1 marriage visa. He failed to update his immigration status.

(Iranian nationals Ribvar Karimi (center), Behzad Sepehrian Bahary Nejad (left), and Bahman Alizadeh Asfestani (right) were all arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend. ICE/Department of Homeland Security)

Another illegal Iranian national named Mehran Makari Saheli, who is a former member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, was found in St. Paul, Minnesota, and arrested by ICE. He was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A judge ordered him to be removed from the US in 2022. It should be noted that he has connections to the terrorist group Hezbollah, according to Newsweek.

Behzad Sepehrian Bahary Nejad was busted by ICE in Houston, Texas. He is an illegal alien who was packing a loaded firearm when he was arrested. He was previously taken into custody in August 2017 for assaulting a family member and was under a final order of removal. Hamid Reza Bayat was also arrested in Houston. A judge had ordered him removed from the US 20 years ago. He has been convicted twice on drug charges and for driving with a suspended license.

Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, an Iranian convicted of threatening a law enforcement officer and possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, was nabbed in Tempe, Arizona. A US citizen named Linet Vartaniann was also arrested for harboring him and threatening law enforcement. When ICE approached Vartaniann at her home on Sunday, she allegedly said she would go outside and shoot ICE officers in the head. They are both now facing federal charges.

(United States citizen Linet Vartaniann (left) was arrested after allegedly harboring Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand (right) in Tempe, Arizona, as well as threatening to kill ICE agents. ICE/Department of Homeland Security)

More from National Review:

Likewise, ICE arrested two Iranian nationals living together in Colorado Springs, Mahmoud Shafiei and Mehrdad Mehdipour. Shafiei was ordered removed decades ago and has criminal convictions related to drug crimes, and arrests for assault and child abuse. Border patrol encountered Mehdipour in June 2023 and processed him for expedited removal. Both are now in ICE custody as they undergo removal proceedings.

ICE agents arrested several other Iranian nationals in numerous other states and localities, almost all of whom had criminal convictions for various offenses and are now in federal custody.

Law enforcement officials have been on high alert over the threat of Iranian terror cells in the U.S. due to the heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. surrounding the 12-day war between Israel and Tehran.

(Mahmoud Shafiei (right) and Mehrdad Mehdipour (left) were detained by ICE at the same residence in Colorado Springs on June 22, 2025. ICE/Department of Homeland Security)

A former green card holder named Yousef Mehridehno was taken into custody in Mississippi. ICE said he was listed as a known or suspected terrorist earlier this year. His permanent resident status was revoked in October 2017.

(Yousef Mehridehno (center), Hamid Reza Bayat (left), and Mehran Makari Saheli (right) were among the Iranian nationals arrested by ICE over the weekend. ICE/Department of Homeland Security)

From Newsweek:

Agents in San Francisco arrested Bahman Alizadeh Asfestani, 62, who had criminal convictions dating back to the 1990s. In San Diego, Arkavan Babk Moirokorli, 57, was also arrested.

Mohammad Rafikian, 65, had been convicted of grand larceny, schemes to defraud, criminal impersonation and practicing as an attorney. He was detained in Buffalo.

None of those arrested have been connected to a specific terror threat, according to CBS News.

A Heightened Terror Alert Remains in Place

These arrests are taking place after President Trump ordered the US military to strike Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities on Saturday in Operation Midnight Hammer. That followed Israel bombing the crap out of nuclear and military facilities in Iran as well as assassinating several of its top military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Currently, there is a tentative ceasefire between Iran and Israel that was brokered by Trump. Whether it holds or not is very much up in the air. Iran has already violated the truce once, and Israel was ready to retaliate, but the President convinced Prime Minister Netanyahu to back down. President Trump is currently attending meetings at NATO.

The US is currently under high alert for physical or cyber terrorism from Iranians. Despite a ceasefire being put in place, the nation is still at heightened risk of an attack.

The post ICE Busts Eleven Illegal Iranian Nationals on US Soil in Heightened Terror Threat to America (Video) appeared first on RAIR.