Clayton Alerts Rubio Iran Is Advancing Plots Against U.S. Personnel

The U.S. intelligence community has determined that Iranian operations to kill Americans are progressing.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton wrote in an unclassified memo dated Friday that Iran has substantially increased its targeting of U.S. personnel overseas. The document, sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, describes the current status of these efforts. Clayton noted that lethal plotting has reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other specific countries. The memo does not identify the exact locations or individuals currently under threat. It also avoids stating whether an attack is imminent.

Clayton indicated that the intelligence community is working to lower the classification level of gathered data. This change will allow State Department staff to access the information more broadly. The official who shared the memo said the department constantly evaluates new security data. Both Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots are shaping staffing decisions at embassies currently on restricted operations status. A senior military official confirmed that the U.S. military is quietly reducing its presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats.

The warning arrives as the Trump administration considers resuming military strikes against Iran. The State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Several other U.S. embassies in the region have shifted to restricted operations status, allowing them to reduce staff without a formal order to depart. Last weekend, embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates took specific steps to respond to Houthi attacks.

Iran-backed Houthi militants have struck Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. One strike on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh earlier this month killed several people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds. The United States and Iran have avoided direct strikes in recent weeks, but President Trump has not ruled out restarting hostilities after next month’s midterm elections. Iran continues to claim responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, Trump suggested another operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree," the president said, referring to the U.S. military campaign launched in February.