Intelligence Memo Warns Iranian Plots to Kill Americans Are Far Along

U.S. intelligence has concluded that Iran has sharply stepped up efforts to target American officials and citizens, with lethal plots in "advanced stages," according to a memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Axios first reported the memo, and a U.S. official confirmed its authenticity to NBC News and The Jerusalem Post.

The warning is one reason the State Department is cutting staff at several embassies in the Middle East, U.S. officials told Axios. It comes as President Donald Trump says he is weighing another military operation against Iran.

What the intelligence memo says

The one-page, unclassified memo is dated Oct. 23 and was written by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, with a copy to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, according to Axios and The Jerusalem Post. Clayton wrote that U.S. agencies have received information through multiple channels showing Iran has substantially intensified its efforts to target American personnel. He said the plotting has reached advanced stages in the Middle East and in certain other countries.

The memo does not name specific targets, describe the nature of the plots or identify which countries outside the Middle East are involved, Axios reported.

Clayton also told Rubio that the threat information is relevant to more people than are currently cleared to see it. He said the underlying intelligence had already been shared with appropriately cleared senior members of Rubio's team. He offered an additional briefing and promised to try to downgrade the classification of as much of it as possible, so Rubio could share it with State Department personnel at his discretion.

Embassy staffing cuts across the region

Axios reported that the State Department ordered family members and nonessential personnel to leave the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran earlier this week. NBC News said the department announced an "ordered departure" for the embassy in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, meaning it will run only with emergency staff. The Jerusalem Post linked the Saudi move to an escalation in attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis.

Further reductions were ordered at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan, according to Axios, NBC News and The Jerusalem Post. Reports differ slightly on timing. Axios said the order came Friday, while NBC News said chiefs of mission were notified Wednesday. NBC News noted those posts were already on "Restricted Operations" status and had limited staffing since the war began in February.

A U.S. official told Axios the department decided to cut its footprint and keep only essential staff because of the threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots. CNN reported that some personnel had only recently returned after earlier evacuations during the Iran war, according to The Jerusalem Post. NBC News also reported, citing sources, that the U.S. military has been quietly scaling back its troop presence at bases in the region.

Why it matters for Americans working in the region

The memo's central concern is who knows about the threat. Clayton wrote that the information applies to a wider group than those now authorized to receive it, which could include State Department staff who may be at risk. Whether and how widely Rubio shares the intelligence has not been disclosed.

For diplomats and their families, the practical effect is already visible. Nonessential staff and relatives have been ordered out of Saudi Arabia, and several other posts are running with fewer people. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott wrote on X that the safety of department personnel and their families remains the highest priority.

Military options and stalled diplomacy

Speaking at a rally in Florida on Friday, Trump said, "We may do another little Epic Fury," referring to the initial U.S. strikes on Iran. He said Iran could instead agree to a deal.

NBC News reported that senior military officials have presented Trump with options for new strikes. A U.S. official and a former U.S. official told the network these include major strikes on tunnels or entrances at Iranian nuclear facilities such as Pickaxe Mountain, or on strategic islands, including Kharg Island and Qeshm.

NBC News said Iran proposed a deal last month to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within days. Trump rejected it publicly and accused Iran of trying to drive up oil prices before the midterm elections. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that Iran does not care about U.S. midterms and cares about its national interests.

CNN reported that Israel has pressed Washington to strike Iran sooner without success, according to The Jerusalem Post. Axios said renewed U.S. and Israeli operations are possible, potentially after the midterms. It also said U.S. officials fear the Houthis could widen their attacks beyond Saudi Arabia.

Around Prague, based on reporting by The Jerusalem Post, NBC News, Axios