Iran Threat: DNI Memo Details $2 Billion Budget Jump
Director Jay Clayton told Secretary Marco Rubio that Tehran allocated an extra $2 billion to lethal operations against American personnel overseas.
By Natalia Costa ·
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton informed Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday that Iran has added $2 billion to its budget for lethal plots against U.S. citizens abroad. The unclassified memo, which was also copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, states that these efforts have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries.
The intelligence chief wrote that Iranian plotting efforts against Americans are now in advanced stages. While the document does not name specific targets or locations, it confirms a substantial increase in activity. Clayton noted that the intelligence community is working to downgrade the classification of sensitive information so it can be shared more broadly with State Department staff.
The memo arrives as the administration considers resuming military strikes against Iran. In response to the growing threat, the State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Several other U.S. embassies in the region have also shifted to restricted operations status, allowing them to reduce staffing without formally ordering departures.
A U.S. official told CBS News on Friday that the department constantly evaluates new information about the security environment. The threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots is shaping decisions on staffing at these embassies. Military officials said the armed forces have been quietly shrinking their presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats.
Houthi militants, who receive backing from Iran, have targeted oil infrastructure and airports in Saudi Arabia. One strike earlier this month on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh killed a U.S. citizen and others, while injuring hundreds. Last weekend, embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates took additional security steps in response to these attacks.
President Trump suggested at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday that another operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. He referenced the military campaign launched in February, saying, "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree." Iran has also continued to claim responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. and Iran have avoided striking each other in recent weeks, but the intelligence assessment suggests the threat level is rising. The $2 billion increase in budget for lethal plots indicates a sustained push by Tehran to harm American personnel in the region and beyond.
