US Intelligence Flags Advanced Iranian Plots as Staff Reduced

United States intelligence agencies have determined that Iran is in the advanced stages of preparing lethal attacks on American personnel abroad. This assessment, detailed in an internal memo, has triggered a heightened state of alert for US staff operating in the Middle East and beyond. The finding marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict that began in late February.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent the warning to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The document states that US agencies have gathered intelligence showing a substantial increase in Iranian efforts to target US citizens overseas. According to Clayton, several plots have reached a point where they are ready for execution in the Middle East and other global locations. The memo was initially reported by Axios and later corroborated by The New York Times.

The New York Times reported that the threats specifically include US officials, such as ambassadors. In recent weeks, intelligence assessments have identified potential targets in Europe. Some reports suggest that Iranian operatives are already active within the United States itself. While the US government has not issued a public statement regarding the memo, one official confirmed its authenticity to the newspaper. Another official noted that while the intent is clear, Iran may lack the capacity to follow through on all its ambitions.

Officials describe the current threat level for US citizens in the Middle East as the highest since the US-Israel war on Iran started on February 28. This period of tension coincides with reports that Washington and Jerusalem may be preparing a new military campaign after the US mid-term elections next month. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US may launch another operation, referring to the conflict by its codename, a phrase he described as a little epic fury.

In response to the rising danger, the State Department announced on Wednesday that it is removing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. The department cited escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Several US media outlets have reported similar quiet reductions at other diplomatic missions. CNN noted that staff cuts are also occurring at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official told The Times that Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting officials are the primary drivers of these decisions.

Iran has not formally responded to the intelligence memo. However, its officials have repeatedly threatened and carried out attacks on US bases and those of regional allies. The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the start of the war. On Wednesday, Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guard, stated that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US renewed attacks. He said Iran would no longer limit itself to retaliation and added that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles have improved.

Reuters cited two senior Iranian security officials who said Tehran has detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new US-Israeli attacks occur. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's security chief, warned that cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be hit if the war resumes. This indicates a shift toward targeting critical infrastructure rather than just military installations.

US authorities have long accused Iran of plotting against Americans. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate Trump and other politicians on the orders of the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with trying to arrange the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton, allegedly offering $300,000 to people in the US to carry it out. Last year, the US intelligence community said Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally, especially those believed to be involved in the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

Earlier this month, the US abruptly pulled bombers from an airbase in England over fears of a possible attack. The move followed a security incident at the base, after which UK authorities arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence. These recent events underscore the growing concern among officials about the reach and sophistication of Iranian operations against American interests.