Iran Threat: US Intel Chief Warns of Advanced Attack Plans

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton informed Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday that Iranian plans for lethal attacks on Americans have reached advanced stages. The intelligence memorandum, dated October 23, was also shared with CIA Director John Ratcliffe. A US official confirmed the receipt of the document following an initial report by Axios.

Clayton wrote that multiple intelligence channels show Iran has substantially intensified efforts to target American personnel. The memo states that lethal plotting efforts have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and certain other countries. Clayton noted that the information is relevant to a wider group than those currently cleared to receive it. He offered Rubio an additional briefing and said the underlying details had already been shared with cleared senior staff.

The director promised to make every effort to downgrade the classification of as much intelligence as possible. This change would allow Rubio to share the information more broadly with State Department staff who might be at risk. The memo itself was marked unclassified. It did not name specific targets, attack methods, or countries outside the Middle East where plots were being developed.

The warning arrives as the State Department reduces its diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern nations. Citing fears of Iranian retaliation and potential renewed US military operations, Washington ordered nonessential employees and family members to leave Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Axios reported that similar staff reductions were ordered at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan. CNN reported on Friday that the US is speeding up the departure of diplomats from several regional posts, some of whom had only recently returned after evacuations during the Iran war.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States could conduct another operation similar to Operation Epic Fury if Tehran does not agree to a deal. He stated that the US may perform another little Epic Fury or that Iran will agree. The memo reflects growing US concern for the safety of diplomatic personnel as Washington weighs military options while continuing diplomatic efforts to secure an agreement with Iran.