Iranian Threat Assessment: US Withdraws Non-Essential Staff From 7 Middle East Missions

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned in an internal memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iranian operations targeting US personnel overseas have reached advanced stages. Axios first reported the memo, and a US official told The New York Times it is authentic. US agencies have gathered intelligence showing Iran has substantially increased efforts to target Americans abroad.

The State Department announced Wednesday it is removing non-essential staff from the embassy in Saudi Arabia, citing escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure. US media outlets report similar staff reductions at missions in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Lebanon. A US official told the Times that Houthi attacks and Iranian plots targeting officials drove those decisions.

Threats to US citizens in the Middle East stand at their highest level since the US-Israel war on Iran began February 28. The Pentagon confirms 21 US military personnel have been killed in the region since that date. Iran has not commented on the memo.

President Donald Trump said Friday that the US may do another little epic fury, using the codename for the February war. Reports indicate the US and Israel may prepare a new military campaign after next month's mid-term elections.

Intelligence assessments indicate Iran has lined up potential targets in Europe, including ambassadors. Some intelligence suggests Iranian operatives are active inside the US. A separate official told the Times that Iran lacks the capacity to carry out all of its ambitions.

Iranian officials have threatened US bases and allies in the region. Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said Wednesday that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US renewed attacks, ending restrictions to retaliation only, and stated Iranian missiles have improved in quality, range and power. Reuters reported that two senior Iranian security officials detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new US-Israeli attacks occur. Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned cables, data centres and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be hit if war resumes.

US authorities have accused Iran of plotting against Americans for years. A US court convicted a Pakistani national in March of plotting to assassinate Trump and other politicians on Revolutionary Guard orders. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with trying to arrange the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton, allegedly offering $300,000 to people in the US. Last year, the US intelligence community said Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally, particularly officials involved in the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

US authorities pulled bombers from an airbase in England this month over fears of a possible attack. UK authorities arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence following a security incident at the base.

Iran has not responded to the memo. The State Department announced Wednesday that it was removing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia.