Clayton tells Rubio Iranian attacks on Americans are at advanced stages

US intelligence officials have confirmed that plots to kill American citizens have reached an advanced stage, according to a memorandum sent to the State Department on Friday. The alert was issued by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as National Security Adviser.

The document, dated October 23, states that Iranian efforts to target US personnel have intensified sharply. Clayton wrote that the lethal plotting has expanded beyond the Middle East to include specific other countries, though the memo did not name those locations or identify specific attack methods.

A copy of the memo was also sent to CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Clayton noted in the document that the intelligence is relevant to a wider group of people than those currently holding security clearances for the underlying information. He told Rubio that senior members of his team had already received the details and offered the Secretary an additional briefing.

The Director of National Intelligence promised to work on downgrading the classification of the intelligence. This step would allow Rubio to share the warning more broadly with State Department staff who may be at risk. The memo itself was marked unclassified and did not specify targets or precise operational plans.

The warning arrives as the US government reduces its diplomatic footprint in the region. Washington ordered nonessential employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia earlier this week following increased Houthi attacks. Further staff reductions were reported for embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US could conduct another military 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 stated, keeping open the possibility of further strikes while diplomatic efforts continue.