Iranian Kill Plots Targeting Americans Reach Advanced Stage
According to U.S. intelligence, Iranian schemes to assassinate Americans overseas have progressed to "advanced stages". An unclassified memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio contains this warning. The document was obtained and published by Axios. The threat is now so severe that officials are scaling back troops and diplomats across the Middle East.
Iranian lethal plotting against U.S. citizens has, per the memo, advanced in the Middle East and other nations. Clayton wrote this warning on Friday. U.S. officials have confirmed the memo's authenticity to multiple news outlets, including CNN. The document does not name the specific countries outside the Middle East where Americans face risk. It also does not identify specific targets or the nature of the alleged plots. This lack of detail leaves many questions about the exact scope of the danger.
The State Department is reducing its diplomatic presence across the region in response to these threats. NBC News sources report the U.S. military is quietly reducing troop levels at various bases. Staff reductions were ordered by the State Department at posts including Lebanon, UAE, Qatar, and Jordan. Since the war began, these posts have operated under "Restricted Operations" with limited staff. A U.S. official told Al Arabiya English that Iranian plots and Houthi attacks are informing these staffing adjustments. Decisions on embassy staffing adjustments in the region stem from Houthi attack threats and Iranian plots targeting U.S. officials.
This is inaccurate. The U.S. Department of State issued an ordered departure for non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only.
Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.
The safety and security of Department personnel and their families remain our highest priority, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to protect and support them.
— Tommy Pigott (@statedeptspox) October 21, 2026
Rubio was told by Clayton that the threat impacts "more individuals than are currently cleared to receive this information". Downgrading the classification of specific intelligence for sharing purposes will be pursued by intelligence officials, he stated. "We will make every effort to downgrade as much intelligence as possible so you can share it with State Department personnel at your discretion," Clayton wrote. This move allows more State Department staff to see the threat data while keeping it secure. The memo also copied CIA Director John Ratcliffe on the urgent warning.
These intelligence warnings arrive as President Donald Trump considers another operation against Iran. Fox News reported that Trump is weighing another round of military strikes if Tehran does not reach an agreement. The State Department's order for non-emergency U.S. government employees to depart Saudi Arabia preceded this intelligence report by days. This evacuation was due to escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Evolving security threats are continuously monitored and evaluated by the government, according to reports.S. official.