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‘Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel,’ intelligence director warns
· Confirmed
In Short: Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton issued an unclassified memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning of advanced Iranian plots targeting U.S. personnel in the Middle East and other countries.
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton issued an unclassified memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning of advanced Iranian plots targeting U.S. personnel in the Middle East and other countries. The memo, obtained by multiple news outlets, indicates that Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target U.S. citizens.
Clayton stated that the threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots is informing staffing adjustments for embassies on restricted operations status in the region. The State Department has ordered nonessential government personnel and their dependents to leave Saudi Arabia due to escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The memo also suggests downgrading sensitive intelligence to allow broader sharing with State Department personnel. This move aims to disseminate critical information more widely while maintaining security protocols.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the communication, underscoring the seriousness of the threat. The memo does not specify particular targets or countries where the alleged plots are underway, nor does it indicate whether attacks are imminent.
The Trump administration is considering renewed military strikes against Iran, potentially after the November midterm elections. Possible targets include Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, energy infrastructure, and nuclear facilities.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott clarified that the staffing adjustments are primarily in response to Houthi escalations, though the memo highlights that threats from Iran have also reached advanced stages.
U.S. officials said the intelligence is one reason the State Department is drawing down personnel at several American embassies across the Middle East, amid mounting fears of a broader regional conflict.
The memo states that certain intelligence and analysis regarding Iranian efforts to target U.S. government officials are relevant to more individuals than are currently cleared to receive this information.
The U.S. Department of State issued an ordered departure for non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia, reflecting the heightened security concerns.
The warning comes as President Donald Trump continues to weigh another round of military strikes against Iran if Tehran does not reach an agreement with Washington.
The memo suggests that intelligence officials will work to downgrade the classification of certain intelligence to facilitate broader dissemination and sharing with State Department personnel.
The Trump administration is considering renewed military strikes against Iran, potentially after the November midterm elections, with possible targets including Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, energy infrastructure, and nuclear facilities.
What's confirmed
- "The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries," Clayton wrote.
- "The threat of Houthi attacks and of Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. officials are informing our decisions on staffing adjustments for embassies on RO [Restricted Operations] Status in the region."
- Iran has "substantially increased" efforts to target U.S. personnel abroad, with plots to kill Americans reaching "advanced stages" in the Middle East and other countries, according to an intelligence memo obtained by Fox News.
- Earlier this week, the State Department addressed reports that it directed nonessential government personnel and their dependents to leave the entire Gulf region, clarifying that the departure order applies only to Saudi Arabia.
- The DNI also added that “every effort to downgrade as much intelligence as possible” would be made so that Rubio could disseminate the material to State Department personnel.
- Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton wrote in an unclassified memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday that the U.S. "received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel."
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the communication.
- The memo, sent Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, comes just days after the State Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
- U.S. officials confirmed the authenticity of the unclassified intelligence memo, which was first.
- On Wednesday, officials confirmed the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia was put on "ordered departure" status, requiring all non-emergency personnel to depart.
- "When it comes to our staffing at embassies, we constantly evaluate new information about the security environment," the official said.
- State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that any claims of a potential broader regional shutdown were "inaccurate."
What's still developing
- The warning follows a series of precautions at U.S.
- "These materials have been provided to appropriately-cleared senior staff on your team and we are available to brief you at your convenience," the memo said, adding, "We will make every effort to downgrade as much intelligence as possible so you can share it with State Department personnel at your discretion."
- Walter Joseph "Jay" Clayton III (born July 11, 1966) is an American attorney who has served as the 9th director of national intelligence since August 2026.
- Directory totals describe our source library, not outlets checked for this story. 15 outlets told this the same way.
- No contrasting quotation pair was identified in this analysis.