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U.S. intelligence has warned that Iran has stepped up efforts to target American diplomats and officials overseas, with some lethal plots described as having reached advanced stages, according to a memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 23.
The one-page, unclassified memo — obtained by Axios — says Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton told Rubio the intelligence on Iranian assassination plots needs to be shared with more U.S. personnel than are currently cleared to receive it. The memo does not name specific targets, countries outside the Middle East or the exact nature of the plots, but says the underlying intelligence has already been provided to senior State Department officials.
Clayton also offered to downgrade as much of the sensitive material as possible so Rubio could circulate it more broadly to personnel who may be at risk.
The warning lands as the State Department trims staffing across the region. Earlier this week, the department ordered family members and nonessential personnel out of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran. On Friday, it ordered reductions in U.S. diplomatic and government personnel at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan, a U.S. official said — five countries in all.
The official said the move was driven by fears of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots, and was intended to keep only essential staff in place. American officials also worry that Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen could broaden their attacks beyond Saudi Arabia to other countries in the region, further complicating security for U.S. facilities and personnel. CNN first reported the reductions at the four embassies.
President Trump added to the uncertainty on Friday, telling a rally in Fort Myers, Florida: "We may do another little Operation Epic Fury, or [the Iranians] will agree [to a deal]."
The war is nearing its eighth month. Operation Epic Fury — the U.S. military's name for its war against Iran, fought alongside Israel — began on February 28. The New York Times reported this week that the U.S. and Israeli militaries have drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes after the midterms: a short, intensive three-to-five-day operation likely targeting Iran's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone arsenal.