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US Warns of Advanced Iranian Plots Against Diplomats
Confirmed
In Short: The US has warned of advanced Iranian plots targeting American officials and diplomats, with some efforts reaching 'advanced stages' in the Middle East.
The United States has issued a warning about a rise in Iranian efforts to target American diplomats and officials overseas, with some suspected assassination plots reportedly reaching advanced stages, according to an unclassified intelligence memo dated October 23 and addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton wrote in the memo that Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target U.S. personnel, with lethal plotting efforts reaching advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries.
In response to these threats, the State Department has renewed its warnings to Americans traveling in and through the Middle East, and has adjusted staffing levels at multiple American embassies in the region, including Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Florida, suggested that if Iran does not agree to a deal, the US could launch another military operation, referring to it as 'another little Operation Epic Fury.'
Clayton's memo does not identify intended victims, name countries outside the Middle East, or specify whether an attack is imminent, but it highlights the heightened security concerns facing American personnel abroad.
US officials have also noted that Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have escalated attacks on civilian airports and infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, contributing to the decision to reduce personnel levels at embassies across the Middle East.
The intelligence report comes as US agencies assess that threats to Americans in the Middle East and several other countries are at their highest level since the war began in February.
In light of these developments, diplomatic and military officials are continuously evaluating the security environment and adjusting staffing levels at facilities throughout the Middle East.
The US government has put employees on heightened alert across the Middle East and moved to reduce personnel levels at embassies and consulates, officials said Friday.
What's confirmed
- The United States has warned of a rise in alleged Iranian efforts to target American diplomats and officials overseas, with some suspected assassination plots reportedly reaching advanced stages.
- Speaking at a rally in Florida on Friday, Trump said the US could launch "another little Operation Epic Fury" or Iran could agree to a deal.
- "If they're smart, they will just say, 'Let's get down to business,'" Trump said, expressing doubt that Iran's leadership would choose that option.
- An unclassified intelligence memo dated October 23 and addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio flagged a substantial increase in Iran's alleged efforts to target American officials.
- Iran has increased efforts to target U.S. personnel in the Middle East and other countries, according to a memo sent by the Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.
- US intelligence agencies have warned that Iran has stepped up efforts to target American personnel, with plots to kill US citizens reaching “advanced stages” in parts of the Middle East and other countries.
- “Specifically, through various channels, we have received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel. 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 warning came as US agencies assessed that threats to Americans in the Middle East and several other countries were at their highest level since the war began in February, The New York Times reported, citing US officials.
- "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 Status in the region."
- The intelligence report on Iranian efforts to target U.S. diplomats and officials in the Middle East also comes as President Donald Trump continues to weigh another round of military strikes against Iran if Tehran does not reach an agreement with Washington.
- 23, that Iranian efforts to target American personnel had intensified.
What's still developing
- Those posts have already been placed on a “restricted operations” status and have been functioning with limited staffing since the start of the war.
- SEE MORE | US orders diplomats, families to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks escalate Scripps News reported earlier this week of staffing reductions taking place in embassies across the Middle East, amid an escalation in attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.