DNI Jay Clayton: Iranian plots against US personnel now in advanced stages

Intelligence leaders are reporting a sharp rise in Iranian activity aimed at American citizens stationed overseas. This assessment arrives as Washington debates the timing of potential military action against Tehran.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton informed Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target U.S. personnel. The unclassified memo, dated Friday, states that lethal plotting has reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other unnamed countries. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the communication. Clayton did not specify which nations are affected or indicate whether an attack is imminent. He noted that the intelligence community is working to declassify sensitive data so it can be shared more broadly with State Department staff.

The warning coincides with immediate changes in diplomatic security across the region. The State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Several other U.S. embassies in the area have shifted to restricted operations status, a designation that allows them to reduce staffing levels without formally ordering a departure. A U.S. official told CBS News that the department constantly evaluates new information about the security environment. The official cited the threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots as key factors shaping these staffing decisions. A senior U.S. military official confirmed that the armed forces are quietly shrinking their presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats.

The regional security picture is complicated by recent Houthi attacks. The Iran-backed militants targeted oil infrastructure and airports in Saudi Arabia. One strike on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh earlier this month killed several people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds. In response to these attacks, U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates took protective steps last weekend.

President Donald Trump has not ruled out restarting military hostilities after the midterm elections next month. While the United States and Iran have avoided direct strikes in recent weeks, tensions remain high. Iran continues to claim responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, Trump suggested another operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree, he said, referring to the U.S. military campaign launched in February.

The memo does not name specific targets or countries where the alleged plots are being developed. It also does not say whether any attack could be imminent. Clayton added that the intelligence community is working to downgrade the classification of sensitive intelligence gathered through various channels, so it can be shared more widely with State Department staff. The document was addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on it. Axios was the first outlet to report on its contents. The U.S. official told CBS News on Friday that the department constantly evaluates new information about the security environment. The official said the threat of Houthi attacks and of Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. officials are shaping decisions on staffing at embassies on restricted operations status. A U.S. official and a senior U.S. military official also said this week that the military has been quietly shrinking its presence at posts in the Middle East because of continuing threats.