US pulls non-essential staff from seven Middle East embassies
A classified memo warns that Iranian plots against Americans have reached an advanced stage, following the deaths of 21 US troops since February.
By Ricardo Brooks ·
The United States is removing non-essential personnel from seven diplomatic missions in the Middle East, a move driven by new intelligence that Iranian attacks on American staff are nearing execution. The Department of State confirmed the withdrawal on Wednesday, initially citing Houthi attacks in Yemen, but US officials told The New York Times that broader threats from Iran are the primary factor.
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent an internal memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio detailing the situation. According to the document, US agencies have determined that Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target US personnel abroad. The memo states that lethal plots are now in advanced stages in the Middle East and other regions.
US officials describe the current threat level to citizens in the Middle East as the highest since the war with Iran began on February 28. The New York Times reported that threats to American officials, including ambassadors, were assessed in recent weeks. Intelligence also suggests Iranian operatives are active inside the United States and that potential targets have been identified in Europe. Washington has not publicly commented on the memo, though one official confirmed its authenticity to The Times.
CNN reported that the staff reductions extend beyond Saudi Arabia to embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official told The New York Times that Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials are driving these decisions. The State Department's initial announcement focused on the Saudi embassy, linking the cuts to escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure.
The intelligence warning arrives as the US and Israel prepare for potential new military operations. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the US might launch another campaign using the codename for the current war. Reports suggest a new offensive could be planned for after the US mid-term elections next month.
Iran has not responded directly to the memo. However, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said on Wednesday that Tehran will adopt an offensive strategy if the US resumes attacks. He stated that Iran will no longer limit itself to retaliation and noted improvements in the quality, range, and power of its missiles. The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the war started.
Reuters cited two senior Iranian security officials who said Tehran has detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new US-Israeli attacks occur. Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, warned that cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be hit if war resumes.
US authorities have a history of accusing Iran of plotting against Americans. In March, a Pakistani national was convicted by a US court of plotting to assassinate President Trump and other politicians on orders from the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton by offering $300,000 to operatives in the US. This month, the US pulled bombers from an airbase in England after UK authorities arrested several men suspected of working with Iranian intelligence.
Source: Al Jazeera
