US Intelligence Chief Warns Iranian Plots Against Americans Have Reached Advanced Stages

A US official confirmed on Friday that Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio has received an intelligence memorandum warning of a sharp rise in Iranian efforts to target American officials and citizens. According to the memo, plots to carry out lethal attacks have reached advanced stages.

The confirmation followed a report by Axios, which obtained the document. It is dated October 23 and was sent to Rubio by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, with a copy going to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

The memo says US intelligence agencies have gathered information through multiple channels showing that Iran has substantially intensified its push to target American personnel. "The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against US citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries," Clayton wrote.

Clayton cautioned that the intelligence on plots against American government personnel is relevant to a wider group of people than those currently cleared to receive it. He said the underlying information had already been shared with appropriately cleared senior members of Rubio's team, and he offered the secretary an additional briefing.

He also promised to make every effort to downgrade the classification of as much of the intelligence as possible. That would let Rubio share it more widely with State Department staff who could be at risk. The memo itself was marked unclassified and did not name specific targets, attack methods, or any countries outside the Middle East where plots were allegedly being developed.

The warning comes as the State Department scales back its diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern countries, citing fears of Iranian retaliation and the possibility of renewed US military operations against Tehran. Earlier this week, Washington ordered nonessential government employees and family members to leave Saudi Arabia after an escalation in attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. Axios reported that further staff reductions were ordered at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan.

CNN also 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. The network added that Israel had urged Washington to launch new strikes on Iran sooner, but those efforts had not succeeded so far.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, kept open the possibility of further military action. Speaking on Friday, he said the United States could carry out another operation similar to Operation Epic Fury if Tehran does not reach an agreement. "We may do another little Epic Fury. Or they'll agree," Trump said.

The memo underscores growing US concern for the safety of American diplomatic personnel as Washington weighs additional military options while continuing diplomatic efforts to secure a deal with Iran.