Fears grow that Tehran may start activating sleeper cells across Middle East as part of war with US and Israel Middle East crisis – live updates Fears grow that Tehran may start activating sleeper cells across Middle East as part of war with US and Israel Middle East crisis – live updates Gulf countries have raised concerns over the prospect of attacks by Iran-backed militias and proxy armed groups in the region, which they fear could destabilise their regimes and escalate the war in the Middle