Iranian Threats: U.S. Intelligence Signals Advanced Plots Against Americans Abroad

The United States and Iran have avoided direct military conflict in recent weeks, but new intelligence indicates that Tehran is preparing to strike American targets overseas.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton issued a memo on Friday stating that Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target U.S. personnel. The unclassified document, addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describes current plots to kill Americans as having reached advanced stages. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the communication. Clayton wrote that these lethal efforts have progressed in both the Middle East and specific other countries.

The memo does not identify specific targets or nations where the plots are developing. It also does not confirm whether any attack is imminent. Clayton noted that the intelligence community is working to declassify sensitive information so it can be shared more broadly with State Department staff. This allows for better coordination between intelligence agencies and diplomatic posts.

This warning arrives as the administration considers resuming military strikes against Iran. Security precautions have tightened at U.S. diplomatic and military sites in the region. Earlier in the week, the State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia. Other U.S. embassies in the area have shifted to restricted operations status, a measure that allows them to reduce staff without issuing a formal departure order.

A U.S. official told CBS News that the department constantly evaluates the security environment. The official said that threats from Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots are influencing staffing decisions at these embassies. A senior U.S. military official confirmed that the military has been quietly shrinking its presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats.

Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran, have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. One strike on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport earlier this month killed people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds. Last weekend, U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates took additional steps in response to these attacks.

President Trump has not ruled out restarting hostilities after next month's midterm elections. Iran continues to claim responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. At a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, Trump suggested another operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. He stated, "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree," referring to the U.S. military campaign launched in February.