Iran's Lethal Plans Against Americans Near Completion

American officials have confirmed that Iranian plots to attack US personnel and citizens have reached advanced stages. This comes as the State Department scales back its diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern countries, citing fears of Iranian retaliation and the possibility of renewed US military operations against Tehran.

The warning follows a report by Axios, which obtained a memo dated October 23 and sent to Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, with a copy going to CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The memo states that US intelligence agencies have gathered information through multiple channels showing that Iran has substantially intensified its push to target American personnel.

The memo says the lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against US citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries. Clayton cautioned that the intelligence on plots against American government personnel is relevant to a wider group of people than those currently cleared to receive it.

The memo itself was marked unclassified and did not name specific targets, attack methods, or any countries outside the Middle East where plots were allegedly being developed. The warning comes as the State Department scales back its diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern countries, citing fears of Iranian retaliation and the possibility of renewed US military operations against Tehran.

Earlier this week, Washington ordered nonessential government employees and family members to leave Saudi Arabia after an escalation in attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. Axios reported that further staff reductions were ordered at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan. CNN also reported on Friday that the United States was speeding up the departure of diplomats and their families from several regional posts.

Some of those personnel had only recently returned after evacuations earlier in the Iran war. The network added that Israel had urged Washington to launch new strikes on Iran sooner, but those efforts had not succeeded so far. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, kept open the possibility of further military action.

Speaking on Friday, he said the United States could carry out another operation similar to Operation Epic Fury if Tehran does not reach an agreement. We may do another little Epic Fury. Or they'll agree, Trump said. The memo underscores growing US concern for the safety of American diplomatic personnel as Washington weighs additional military options while continuing diplomatic efforts to secure a deal with Iran.