Federal agents arrested seven Iranian nationals on the FBI Terror Watchlist during a raid on a Los Angeles home that served as the nerve center for an extensive human smuggling network trafficking potential terrorists across the U.S. border.
Key Takeaways
- Federal authorities arrested 11 Iranian nationals illegally in the U.S., including individuals with ties to Hezbollah and suspected terrorists
- A North Hills, Los Angeles property was identified as a hub for an Iranian human trafficking network, resulting in nine arrests including seven individuals on the FBI Terror Watchlist
- Among those arrested was a former Iranian Army sniper and others with histories of violence, drug crimes, and weapons offenses
- The Trump administration has ramped up deportation efforts against Iranian nationals, with federal agents arresting 130 Iranians nationwide as part of national security operations
- A U.S. citizen was arrested for threatening to kill ICE officers while harboring an illegal alien
Los Angeles Raid Exposes Iranian Terror Network
The Department of Homeland Security conducted a targeted raid in Los Angeles this week, dismantling what officials describe as a sophisticated Iranian human trafficking operation. Federal agents arrested nine individuals at a North Hills property, including seven Iranian nationals who were on the FBI’s Terror Watchlist. The property had been under surveillance as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts, with intelligence indicating it functioned as a hub for processing foreign nationals with potential security risks entering the country illegally.
“This location has been used repeatedly to harbor illegal entrants, including foreign nationals linked to terrorism and flagged on the FBI’s Terrorist Watchlist,” said Hilton Beckham, CBP Assistant Commissioner. “Intelligence indicates the smuggling network has trafficked individuals from adversarial regimes, including Iran — posing direct risks to U.S. national security.”
Nationwide Crackdown on Iranian Security Threats
The Los Angeles operation was part of a broader nationwide security initiative that resulted in the arrest of 11 Iranian nationals and one American citizen across nine cities. Among those detained was Ribvar Karimi, a former Iranian Army sniper arrested in Alabama, and Mehran Makari Saheli, who was taken into custody in Minnesota for his connections to the terrorist organization Hezbollah. Federal authorities also arrested Yousef Mehridehno in Mississippi, a former lawful permanent resident identified as a suspected terrorist.
“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,” said Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary “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.”
The operation also targeted Behzad Sepehrian Bahary Nejad in Houston, who was found with a loaded pistol and has a history of domestic violence. In Colorado Springs, authorities arrested Mahmoud Shafiei and Mehrdad Mehdipour, both with significant criminal histories. San Francisco officials apprehended Bahman Alizadeh Asfestani, who has previous drug-related convictions. This coordinated effort reflects President Trump’s intensified focus on removing threats associated with adversarial nations.
American Citizen Arrested for Harboring and Threatening Officers
Among those arrested was U.S. citizen Linet Vartannivartanians, who was taken into custody for harboring an illegal alien and making violent threats against law enforcement. According to DHS reports, Vartannivartanians threatened to “shoot ICE officers in the head” when they attempted to execute their duties. This arrest highlights the complex networks supporting illegal immigration and the domestic enablers working against American security interests.
Rising Concerns About Sleeper Cells
National security experts have expressed growing alarm about the potential for Iranian sleeper cells operating within American communities. The targeted raids come amid heightened tensions with Iran and are part of the Trump administration’s comprehensive approach to removing security threats before they can materialize. To date, federal agents have arrested 130 Iranian nationals across the country, prioritizing those with criminal histories or terrorist connections.
“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) raided a home in Los Angeles this week as part of a sweeping investigation into an Iranian human trafficking ring,” according to Customs and Border Protection. “The location has been repeatedly used to harbor illegal entrants linked to terrorism.”
The discovery of multiple individuals with weapons, criminal backgrounds, and terrorist ties has validated President Trump’s decisive action on border security and his focus on removing threats from adversarial nations. The administration continues to prioritize the deportation of individuals from countries with histories of sponsoring terrorism, particularly following recent Iranian provocations in the Middle East and against U.S. interests abroad.
