Clayton Memo Triggers Staff Pullback From Seven Middle East Posts

A recent intelligence assessment has prompted the State Department to remove non-essential personnel from seven US missions across the Middle East. The decision follows a warning that Iran is actively preparing attacks on American citizens and government officials abroad.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent a memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio detailing the threat. The document stated that US agencies had gathered evidence showing Iran has substantially increased efforts to target US personnel. Clayton described lethal plots in the Middle East and other regions as being in advanced stages.

The timeline of the threat has intensified since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. Officials told The New York Times that threats to US citizens in the region are at their highest level since that date. The Pentagon confirmed that 21 US military personnel have died in the Middle East during the conflict.

The State Department announced on Wednesday that it was withdrawing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. The department cited escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. CNN reported that quiet staff reductions are also occurring at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon.

US authorities have linked these staffing changes to both Houthi actions and specific Iranian terror plots. A US official told The New York Times that the combination of these factors is driving the decisions. The intelligence community also assessed that Iran has identified potential targets in Europe and that operatives may already be active inside the United States.

Iran has not responded to the memo but has outlined its counter-strategy. On Wednesday, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US renewed attacks. He added that Iranian missiles have improved in quality, range, and power. Security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that undersea cables, data centers, and AI facilities could be targeted if war resumes.

This warning comes as President Donald Trump suggested the US might launch another military campaign. He used the codename for the current war on Friday, saying the US may do another little epic fury. Reports indicate the US and Israel may be preparing for a new offensive after next month's mid-term elections.

The threat landscape includes specific plots against US officials. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate President Trump on orders from the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with trying to arrange the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton. The US intelligence community has long maintained that Iran will continue to threaten US persons globally, particularly those involved in the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani.