U.S. intelligence has indicated that Iranian plans to target Americans abroad are progressing significantly, prompting Washington to scale back its diplomatic presence in the Middle East due to escalating threats and the possibility of renewed military actions against Iran.
This warning was included in an unclassified memorandum dated October 23 from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which Axios has reported on. The memo outlined how these intelligence findings contributed to the decision to reduce diplomatic staff.
“We have received intelligence through various channels suggesting that Iran is intensifying its efforts to target U.S. personnel,” Clayton stated. “These lethal plotting initiatives by Iran against American citizens have reached advanced stages, not just in the Middle East but also in some other nations.”
The memorandum, which also included CIA Director John Ratcliffe, cautioned that the intelligence regarding Iranian threats was pertinent to more State Department personnel than those currently authorized to receive it.
Clayton mentioned that this information has already been communicated to senior State Department officials who have the necessary clearance, and he offered to declassify parts of the sensitive intelligence to facilitate broader distribution.
Interestingly, the document did not specify any particular targets or detail the nature of the supposed plots, nor did it name the countries outside the Middle East where Americans might be in danger.
U.S. officials have validated the memo’s authenticity to various news organizations, including CNN, which also secured a copy. A U.S. official informed Al Arabiya English correspondent Joseph Haboush that Iranian plots against American officials, along with threats from the Iranian-aligned Houthis, were influencing personnel decisions at U.S. embassies operating under restrictions throughout the region.
This warning coincides with the State Department’s move to lessen its diplomatic footprint in the Middle East due to the alarming threats posed by Iran and its Houthi affiliates.
Just this week, Washington instructed nonessential personnel and their families to depart from its embassy in Riyadh and consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensified.
CNN initially reported on the staffing changes at several diplomatic posts, including locations in Bahrain and Kuwait, as U.S. officials considered the likelihood of a wider regional conflict.
Furthermore, on Friday, the department also mandated reductions in staffing at U.S. embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan, as mentioned by a U.S. official in the report.
“Given the threat from Houthi attacks and Iranian terrorist plots, we determined the necessity to minimize our operational presence and retain only essential personnel,” the official noted.
These security measures arise amidst overt Iranian threats directed at U.S. forces and military installations in the region.
On Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the conflict could widen to include American military bases if U.S. forces continued to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The U.S. military should understand that if this continues, the conflict will extend to its bases in the region,” warned the IRGC.
Additionally, Reuters reported that two high-ranking Iranian security officials discussed contingency planning for broader retaliation should Washington or Israel resume strikes, including potential attacks on undersea communication cables and military installations.
“If Iran is targeted, there will be no boundaries… from undersea cables to military bases, including covert ones,” one official cautioned.
These developments occur as President Donald Trump has heightened his rhetoric regarding renewed military action against Iran, indicating on Friday that he might initiate another round of Operation Epic Fury if an agreement with Washington isn’t reached.
“We may do another little Epic Fury, or they’ll agree,” Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida.
“If they’re wise, they’ll just come to the table. But, honestly, I question if they will, perhaps because they’re not smart,” he added.
Recent reports suggest that the Trump administration is contemplating renewed military strikes against Iran, likely post the November midterm elections, targeting its missile and drone asset capabilities, energy infrastructure, and nuclear facilities.
As of now, no decision has been made regarding the launch of another operation.
