U.S. intelligence warns of advanced Iranian plots against American officials

On October 24, 2026, reports surfaced regarding a classified internal memo from U.S. intelligence officials, dated October 23, warning of a significant escalation in Iranian efforts to assassinate American diplomats and high-ranking officials. The memo, sent by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicates that several of these alleged plots have reached an "advanced stage." While the document does not name specific targets, it highlights a global threat beyond the Middle East.

In response to the intelligence, the U.S. Department of State has initiated a reduction of diplomatic personnel across several locations in the Middle East. Orders for the departure of non-essential staff and diplomats' families have been issued for the embassy in Riyadh and consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Similar staff reductions are being implemented at American diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan.

Director Clayton has expressed his willingness to declassify portions of the intelligence report to allow the State Department to better inform vulnerable personnel. This move comes amid broader regional concerns that the ongoing crisis could escalate into a wider conflict, potentially involving regional proxies such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen.