As the Fourth of July approaches, federal and local authorities across the United States are on heightened alert amid escalating tensions with Iran and increased concerns over potential terror threats targeting patriotic celebrations.
The warning comes following the June 22 U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, part of what officials describe as a coordinated U.S.-Israeli campaign that has rendered several of Tehran’s key nuclear sites inoperable. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a bulletin on the same day, designating the U.S. as being in a “heightened threat environment” through at least September 22.
According to Michael Verden, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and current CEO of The Lake Forest Group, this year’s Fourth of July events will likely see increased security measures, especially in major cities and at large public gatherings.
“Because of this heightened threat environment, expect more screening, more coordination, and a strong emphasis on access control,” Verden told Fox News Digital.
DHS’s June bulletin cited Iran’s long-standing efforts to target U.S. officials over the 2020 killing of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani. The department also warned that any religious decree from Iranian leadership calling for retaliatory violence could raise the likelihood of domestic extremists acting independently on U.S. soil.
Additionally, recent attacks in the U.S. have been driven by anti-Semitic and anti-Israel sentiment, which could be further inflamed by the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and the high-profile destruction of Iranian military and nuclear assets.
Law enforcement agencies are expected to focus heavily on:
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Access control: Bag checks, credential verification, perimeter monitoring, and vehicle sweeps.
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Explosives detection: Canine units and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) teams will be deployed to handle suspicious packages or threats.
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Rooftop and high-point surveillance: A direct response to previous mass shootings and the 2024 attempted assassination of then-candidate Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, both involving shooters stationed above crowds.
Verden also warned of the need to monitor subterranean spaces such as subway stations and water-accessible locations, which could be vulnerable to unconventional attacks in urban environments.
For the public, situational awareness is key. Verden advises attendees of large July 4 events to:
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Familiarize themselves with venue layouts and exits.
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Establish emergency meeting points in case of lost contact.
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Review event websites in advance to understand entry procedures and safety protocols.
He emphasized the importance of having contingency plans should cell service be disrupted, which often happens at crowded events.
According to a recent report by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), U.S. and Israeli strikes — particularly Operation Rising Lion and America’s bunker-busting follow-up — inflicted “extensive damage” on nearly all of Iran’s major nuclear and missile facilities. The strikes effectively destroyed centrifuge operations and made the Fordow nuclear site inoperable, according to satellite imagery.
But the ISIS report warns that stockpiles of enriched uranium and unused centrifuges remain a latent threat, as they could be mobilized in the future to quickly resume weapons-grade uranium production.
This has increased fears of Iranian retaliation, particularly against U.S. targets, which could include high-profile public events like Independence Day celebrations.
