Sen. Tom Cotton warns of Iranian sleeper cell threats in America

Is Iran’s shadow looming over American soil with sleeper cells ready to strike?

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) raised alarms on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends this Monday, pointing to the unsettling possibility of Iranian operatives embedded in the U.S. amid lax border policies under President Joe Biden’s administration, as Breitbart reports.

Cotton didn’t mince words about the potential danger, asserting that everyday Americans have every reason to be on edge. His appearance on the show spotlighted a chilling reality: Iran’s decades-long hostility toward the U.S. isn’t just a distant threat — it could be right in our backyard.

Cotton highlights Biden border failures

Let’s talk numbers that should make anyone pause — over the past four years, Border Patrol data shows more than 1,500 Iranian nationals have entered the U.S. under Biden’s watch. Even more eyebrow-raising? Over 700 of them were permitted to stay, no questions asked.

As Cotton put it, this isn’t just a bureaucratic oversight; it’s a gaping hole in national security. One has to wonder if the welcome mat was rolled out a bit too eagerly. Turns out, open borders might come with some uninvited guests.

Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox & Friends, framed the concern sharply: “The White House warning about dangers of sleeper cells right here in the U.S. Why would they think that?” His question cuts to the core—why indeed, when the administration’s policies seem to invite the very risks we fear?

Iran’s long history of hostility

Cotton didn’t hesitate to lay out Iran’s rap sheet, a 46-year saga of targeting America, including acts of terror on our own soil. This isn’t a new grudge; it’s a persistent campaign of malice that predates any recent U.S. actions.

Specific incidents paint a grim picture — take Iran’s attempt to assassinate Donald Trump last year. Or consider the brutal stabbing of Salman Rushdie, a direct response to Iran’s long-standing fatwa against the author. These aren’t hypotheticals; they’re stark reminders of a regime’s reach.

Cotton drove the point home, saying, “[U]nfortunately, they do have a right to be concerned.” He tied these acts to Biden’s border approach, noting that a “wide-open” policy for four years has let potential threats slip through. It’s hard to argue when the evidence keeps piling up.

Trump’s actions in stark relief

Let’s not forget the context of U.S. responses, as Cotton clarified that Iran’s terrorist label isn’t a reaction to American aggression. President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear bunkers wasn’t the spark — it was a response to a fire that’s been burning for decades.

In Cotton’s words, “Iran did not become a terrorist state because Donald Trump bombed their nuclear bunkers.” He flipped the narrative: Trump acted precisely because Iran’s actions as a hostile regime demanded it. Cause and effect seem pretty clear here.

This isn’t about picking fights; it’s about recognizing an enemy for what it is. Cotton stressed that allowing a state like Iran to acquire nuclear weapons isn’t just risky — it’s a catastrophe waiting to happen. Who could disagree with keeping doomsday tools out of dangerous hands?

Stronger safeguards urged

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and Cotton’s warning is a call to rethink policies that prioritize openness over safety. If over 1,500 entries from a nation with Iran’s track record don’t ring alarm bells, what will? It’s not fearmongering; it’s facing facts.

Americans deserve to feel secure in their own country, not to wonder if the next threat is already among us. Cotton’s message on Fox & Friends is a reminder that vigilance isn’t optional when dealing with a regime that’s proven its ill intent time and again.

Perhaps it’s time for the administration to take a harder look at who’s crossing our borders — before the consequences catch up.