US warns of advanced Iranian plots against Americans abroad

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel abroad, with lethal plotting against Americans reaching advanced stages in the Middle East and certain other countries. The warning was delivered in an unclassified memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.

The memo does not identify specific targets or countries where the alleged plots are underway, nor does it indicate whether attacks may be imminent. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the memo.

“The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries.”

The Trump administration is weighing resuming military strikes against Iran while the State Department adjusts staffing at diplomatic posts across the Middle East. The U.S. military is also reducing its footprint in the region amid concerns about direct threats from Iran and the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen.

Earlier this week, the State Department ordered non-essential U.S. embassy personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia. Several other American embassies in the region adjusted staffing under restricted operations status.

Axios was first to report on the memo. Die Presse reported that U.S. intelligence officials warned Rubio on Friday and that President Trump and his closest advisers are regularly briefed on the growing dangers.

Die Presse added that intelligence analysts have been examining information about possible threats to U.S. government representatives, including ambassadors, for three weeks. Some intelligence suggests Iran may have agents in the United States.