(DCNF)—The U.S. strike against Iran on Saturday night has ignited fears that Iran may choose to orchestrate attacks against Americans with undercover agents.
Iran threatened to activate sleeper cells in the U.S. days before President Donald Trump decided to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities Saturday night, two U.S. officials told NBC News. In the wake of the U.S. attacks against the Iranian nuclear program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memo Sunday warning of a “heightened threat environment” in light of the attacks, warning that Iranian government affiliates could launch terrorist attacks.
“The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland,” the memo read. “Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to U.S.-based individuals plotting additional attacks.”
Trump announced a ceasefire agreement on Truth Social Monday evening between Iran and Israel, set to go into effect at approximately 12:00 a.m. EST, which would mark an end to the ongoing twelve day conflict assuming it holds. While Iran may have indicated it is no longer interested in continuing the war in the short-term with the agreement, the regime has a considerable history of pursuing violent plots on American soil.
In 2011, two men linked to the Iranian government were charged in a plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian Ambassador on American soil. One co-conspirator, Gholam Shakuri, was involved in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qods Force, a key cog of Tehran’s state-sponsored terror machine.
More recently in 2024, suspected Iranian asset Farhad Shakeri was arrested in connection to an alleged plot to surveil and murder an Iranian dissident with U.S. citizenship, as well as potentially targeting Trump himself. The attack was allegedly intended to be revenge for Trump’s decision to eliminate IRGC Qods Force Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
An Iranian Intelligence operative, Majid Dastjani Farahani, was suspected by law enforcement officials of trying to target key former Trump administration officials in March 2024, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Iranian novelist Salman Rushdie, the author of a book that some Islamic religious authorities found blasphemous and the subject of an Iranian fatwa, was stabbed in 2022 by a man with ties to Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy.
Simone Ledeen, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Iranian networks are a cause for major concern given their history of activity in the U.S., especially after the strikes that hammered Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
“I think there is a real threat and it should be taken seriously,” Ledeen told the DCNF. “We have U.S. citizens and U.S. military, those are all potential targets for these sleeper cells. But I would also take a step back and look at the attempted murders that the Iranian regime has undertaken in the last decade or so.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu has claimed that Iran attempted to assassinate Trump twice, but did not elaborate on the incidents to which he was referring. Trump said in February that he left “instructions” if he is assassinated by Iran, and that there would be “nothing left” of the Islamic Republic in the event that Tehran orchestrates his assassination, according to The Associated Press.
Lax border enforcement under former President Joe Biden allowed hundreds of Iranian nationals to enter the U.S. without much or any vetting, raising concerns that individuals on missions from Tehran could still be present in the U.S. The Biden administration apprehended 1,504 Iranian nationals at the southern border, releasing 729 into the U.S. between fiscal years 2021 to 2024.
“I’m sure the FBI is all over it, but they can’t always be everywhere, so people should feel alert,” Ledeen told the DCNF.
The U.S. dropped a number of bunker buster bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites in a daring attack on Saturday night, with initial damage assessments reportedly showing considerable damage to the Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan sites in central Iran. In response, Tehran has considered blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping vein for the global oil supply.
Iran also launched a missile attack against a U.S. air base in Qatar Monday, with no rockets landing on target or any casualties reported. Trump noted in a Monday post to Truth Social that the Iranian regime effectively notified Washington of the attacks in advance.
Trump is hopeful that the Iranians will pursue peace after the ineffectual strike, saying in the same Monday Truth Social Post that he would “enthusiastically” encourage peace between Iran and Israel.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not be reached for comment.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.