Seven US missions cut staff after intelligence flags advanced Iranian plots

US intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran is in the advanced stages of planning lethal attacks against American personnel abroad.

The warning originated in a memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Clayton stated that US agencies had gathered evidence showing Iran substantially increased its efforts to target US staff overseas. The memo indicated that lethal plots were reaching a mature phase in the Middle East and other regions.

US officials told The New York Times that threats to American officials, including ambassadors, have been assessed in recent weeks. The report noted that Iran has identified potential targets in Europe and that some intelligence suggests Iranian operatives are already active within the United States. A US official confirmed the memo is authentic, while another official noted that Iran may lack the capacity to execute all its ambitions.

In response, the State Department removed non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. This action followed escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. CNN reported that quiet staff reductions are also occurring at US embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official attributed these decisions to Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials.

The heightened alert status marks the highest threat level for US citizens in the Middle East since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US may conduct another major operation, referencing the conflict codename. The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the region since the war started.

Iran has not publicly responded to the memo. However, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi stated on Wednesday that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if US attacks resume. He added that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles have improved. Reuters reported that Iranian security officials have detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf. Security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities could be hit if war resumes.

This month, US authorities pulled bombers from an airbase in England over fears of a possible attack. That move followed a security incident at the base, after which UK authorities arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate President Trump and other politicians on orders from the Revolutionary Guard.