Clayton Orders Diplomatic Pullback Amid Escalating Threats to US Staff in the Middle East

The US intelligence community has signaled a sharp rise in risk for American diplomats and personnel stationed abroad. This warning has triggered immediate operational changes at diplomatic missions in the Middle East and beyond.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent a memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio detailing the heightened threat. The document, first revealed by Axios, states that Iranian efforts to target US personnel have increased substantially. Lethal plots are now in advanced stages in the Middle East and other regions. The New York Times reported that threats have been assessed against various US officials, including ambassadors, in recent weeks. Some intelligence indicates that potential targets have been identified in Europe, while other data suggests Iranian operatives are already active within the United States. Washington has not issued a public statement on the memo, though one official confirmed its authenticity to the Times. Another official noted that Iran may lack the full capacity to execute all its planned attacks.

Officials described the threat level to US citizens in the Middle East as the highest since the conflict with Iran began on February 28. This assessment arrives as the US and Israel prepare for a potential new military campaign following next month's mid-term elections. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US might execute another significant operation, using the codename associated with the current war. The State Department announced on Wednesday that non-essential staff are being removed from the embassy in Saudi Arabia. This move cites escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Houthis in Yemen. Other outlets have reported similar quiet reductions at missions in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official attributed these decisions to Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials.

Iran has not publicly responded to the specific intelligence memo. However, its officials have repeatedly threatened US and allied bases in the region. The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have died in the Middle East since the war started. On Wednesday, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi 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 noted improvements in the quality, range, and power of its missiles.

Reuters reported that Tehran has detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new US-Israeli strikes occur. Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be hit if the war resumes.

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 orders from the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton by offering $300,000 to US operatives. Last year, the intelligence community stated that Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally, particularly those linked to the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

Earlier this month, the US abruptly withdrew bombers from an airbase in England due to fears of a possible attack. This action followed a security incident at the base, leading to the arrest of several men in the UK on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence.