Iran has stepped up efforts to target U.S. personnel in the Middle East and other countries, according to a memo sent Friday by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The memo warned that “deadly Iranian conspiracy efforts against American citizens have reached an advanced stage.”
A US official confirmed the authenticity of the memo first reported by Axios.
The intelligence comes days after sources told NBC News that the US military had quietly reduced its troop presence at bases in the Middle East. The State Department has ordered further staff reductions at several diplomatic posts in the region, including in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan, according to a State Department official.
These posts have already been placed under “restricted operations” status and have been operating with limited manpower since the start of the war.
Clayton told Rubio in the memo that the risk “affects more people than are currently authorized to receive this information,” adding: “We will make every effort to declassify as much intelligence as possible so that you can share it with State Department personnel at your discretion.” »
The reduction in U.S. forces and diplomatic personnel is similar to base and embassy withdrawals that the Defense Department and State Department initiated at the start of the war with Iran in February.
“With respect to embassy personnel, we are constantly evaluating new information about the security environment,” a U.S. official said. “The threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terrorist plots targeting U.S. officials informs our decisions regarding adjusting staff at embassies with restricted status in the region. »
President Donald Trump said this week he was considering another operation against Iran, after months of strikes against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and limited progress toward a long-term ceasefire.
“We could do another little Epic Fury,” he said Friday at a rally in Florida, referring to the American name given to the first wave of strikes. “If they’re smart, they’ll just say, let’s get down to business,” he added.
His comment comes after senior US military officials presented Trump with options for further strikes in Iran.
Among the military options presented to Trump in recent weeks are major strikes against tunnels or entrances to Iran’s nuclear facilities, such as at Pickaxe Mountain, or against its strategic islands, according to one of the U.S. officials and a former U.S. official familiar with the options.
They said some of the options include targeting Kharg Island – home to the vast majority of Iran’s oil production, making it an economic lifeline for the country – and Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran proposed a new deal last month to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within days. Trump publicly rejected the proposal without giving a specific reason, saying Iran wanted a deal “because it’s losing a lot.” He also accused Iran of seeking to raise oil prices in the run-up to midterm elections.
“We don’t care about the US midterm elections,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. “We care about our national interests.”
On Wednesday, the mission heads of several U.S. diplomatic posts in the Middle East were informed that their posts would begin operating with reduced staff, the two U.S. officials said. The State Department also announced Wednesday that the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia was under “orderly departure,” meaning it would operate only with emergency personnel.
“The safety and security of Department personnel and their families remains our top priority, and we will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and support them,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott wrote on X.
Gn headline
