Iran's Potential Threats to Indiana Revealed

Indiana leaders have identified cyberattacks and sleeper cells as the two biggest threats posed by Iran following recent US airstrikes. The Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin warning of "low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists" and retaliatory violence is possible.

"The prospect of retaliatory violence on U.S. soil depends on whether Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issues any religious decrees demanding it," said officials, noting that no such decree has been issued to date.

According to Homeland Security officials, the conflict could also lead to attacks against targets perceived to be Jewish or pro-Israel. Iran has a history of backing terrorist groups and relying on murder-for-hire plots, with federal law enforcement agencies foiling many such plots in recent years.

"Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also has a well-developed cyberattack capability," said officials.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed concerns about sleeper cells and cyberattacks against public utilities, stating that "much of America’s public infrastructure still hasn’t been hardened against such attacks." He emphasized the importance of the threat of counterattack: "If they were to do something against our people as it relates to critical infrastructure in the homeland, they should know that this president is prepared to attack them or do whatever he can to prevent that."

Indiana's Republican Gov. Mike Braun echoed Young's concerns about sleeper cells, noting that it depends on how many people got into the country and emphasizing the need for vigilance.

"I think launching the air strike was the right thing to do," said Braun, "and the past two weeks have exposed serious weaknesses in the Iranian regime." He believes that Iran's involvement as a main state sponsor of terrorism will ultimately lead to consequences.

"When you are the main state sponsor of terrorism, sooner or later, you are going to get your comeuppance on it and the day occurred and I think the world is better off for it," said Braun.