Exclusive: FBI Bulletin Warned Of Iran’s "Persistent Threat" To U.S. As White House Played Down Risk

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - A previously unseen FBI intelligence bulletin dated March 20 warned state and local law enforcement that Iran’s government posed an elevated and "persistent threat" to targets inside the United States even as the White House publicly downplayed the likelihood of attacks, according to a report reviewed by Reuters.

Public Safety Awareness Report

The March 20 document, titled a Public Safety Awareness Report and prepared by the FBI with input from other federal intelligence agencies, said Iranian government operations could endanger U.S. military and government personnel and facilities, Jewish and Israeli institutions, and Iranian dissidents living in the United States. At the same time, the report noted that the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) had not identified broad, specific threats to the general public.

Political Messaging vs. Intelligence Assessments

President Donald Trump has publicly minimized the prospect of Iranian strikes on U.S. soil in recent weeks, in line with other public statements about the threat. When asked outside the White House on March 11 whether he feared an attack in the U.S., Trump replied:

"No, I'm not."

This week the president intensified his rhetoric about the conflict, saying on Tuesday that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran did not meet his demands, though he later announced a two-week delay in the threatened assault.

Details From The Bulletin

Obtained through open-records requests by the transparency group Property of the People and shared with news outlets, the bulletin highlighted "the potential for elevated physical threats" to U.S. targets after the onset of the conflict. It warned that violent extremists across numerous ideologies — including actors opposed to the United States or Israel — might cite the confrontation as a pretext for violence.

The report recounted past Iranian-linked operations that targeted Americans, including attempts to kidnap and kill U.S. residents. While many plots in the U.S. have involved firearms, the bulletin listed other methods used in prior incidents: stabbings, vehicle rammings, bombings, poisoning, strangulation, suffocation and arson.

According to the report, Tehran prefers to use operatives who already have U.S. legal status or other forms of access. Iranian security services have monitored social media, livestreams and mapping apps to select targets and assess security. Cyber tactics such as phishing emails have also been used to facilitate operations. The bulletin additionally flagged instances in which Iranian agents sought to lure victims to third countries closer to Iran, apparently to enable kidnappings and potential executions.

Law Enforcement Guidance

The intelligence product urged state and local law enforcement to remain vigilant, monitor suspicious activity, and share concerning information with federal partners. The FBI and NCTC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ali Karimi Magham, a spokesperson for Iran’s mission to the United Nations, declined to comment.

Reporting by Kristina Cooke in San Francisco and Ted Hesson in Washington; additional reporting by Jana Winter in Washington; editing by Michael Learmonth and Lincoln Feast.