Rubio gets warning on Iran threats

Secretary of State Marco Rubio received a formal warning on Friday that Iran is moving closer to executing lethal attacks on American personnel. A US official confirmed that Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent an intelligence memorandum to Rubio on October 23. The document also went to CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The memo details a sharp increase in Iranian efforts to target US officials and citizens.

Clayon stated that the plotting efforts have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries. He noted that intelligence agencies gathered this data through multiple channels. The information shows that Tehran has substantially intensified its push to harm American personnel. Clayton cautioned that the details are relevant to a wider group than those currently cleared for the briefing.

The intelligence chief said he had already shared the underlying information with senior members of Rubio's team who have the necessary clearances. He offered the secretary an additional briefing on the findings. Clayton also promised to work to downgrade the classification of as much of the intelligence as possible. That change would allow Rubio to share the information more widely with State Department staff who might be at risk.

The memo itself was marked unclassified. It did not name specific targets, attack methods, or countries outside the Middle East where plots were being developed. The warning arrives as the State Department scales back its diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern countries. Officials cited fears of Iranian retaliation and the possibility of renewed US military operations against Tehran.

Washington ordered nonessential government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia earlier this week. This followed an escalation in attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. Further staff reductions were ordered at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan. CNN reported on Friday that the United States was speeding up the departure of diplomats and their families from several regional posts.

Some of those personnel had only recently returned after evacuations earlier in the Iran war. Israel has urged Washington to launch new strikes on Iran sooner, but those efforts have not succeeded so far. President Donald Trump kept open the possibility of further military action on Friday. He said the United States could carry out another operation similar to Operation Epic Fury if Tehran does not reach an agreement. Trump added, "We may do another little Epic Fury. Or they'll agree."