DNI Jay Clayton sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio a one-page unclassified memo on October 23 warning that Iranian plots against US personnel have sharply increased and reached an advanced stage. Non-emergency staff left the Riyadh embassy and the Jeddah and Dhahran consulates earlier in the week. On Friday, staffing at embassies in the UAE, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan was cut to essential personnel. Officials call it the highest risk since the US-Iran war began in February.
1
Targets beyond the region
The New York Times reports potential targets are being assessed in Europe and regional host nations, and some intelligence points to possible operatives inside the US. The memo names no specific targets.
2
Declassify and share
Clayton urged wider sharing, including with Americans without clearances, and offered to declassify as much as possible. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott denied reports that mandatory departures would spread across more Gulf missions.
3
In step with military pressure
The drawdowns run alongside the administration's warnings of further strikes on Tehran. Protect personnel first, keep strike options open: that is the standard sequence before action.
Tehran cannot win a conventional fight, so it turns to assassination. Going public early breaks its script.
Key FAQ
Q1: What does the memo say?
DNI Jay Clayton told Rubio on October 23 that Iranian plots against US personnel have sharply increased and reached an advanced stage, without naming targets.
Q2: Which posts were thinned?
Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran sent non-emergency staff home first. On October 23, the UAE, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan embassies cut to essential personnel.
Q3: Does it affect ordinary Americans?
Clayton wants warnings shared even with Americans without clearances and offered to declassify. The NYT says some intelligence points to possible operatives inside the US.
Sources
- ✓ NBC News — Iranian plots to kill U.S. officials in Middle East have reached 'advanced stages,' intel memo warns — 2026-10-24
- ✓ Haaretz — Report: Iran Steps up Efforts to Assassinate U.S. Officials in Middle East — 2026-10-24
- ✓ The Statesman — Iran's alleged plots to kill US officials at 'advanced stages'; Washington cuts embassy staff in 4 countries — 2026-10-24