Iran Threatens Americans in New Intel Memo

Washington confirmed on Friday that a new intelligence warning has reached the top of the US government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio received a detailed memo. The document outlines a sharp increase in Iranian efforts to target Americans. Officials said the threats are no longer just theoretical. They are now in advanced stages.

The memo was written by Jay Clayton. He serves as the Director of National Intelligence. Clayton sent the report to Rubio on October 23. A copy also went to John Ratcliffe, who leads the CIA. The timing is significant. It follows recent reports that Iranian backing for regional groups has intensified. This has raised alarms in diplomatic circles.

Clayton stated that intelligence agencies have gathered data from several sources. This information shows Iran is pushing harder to hit US personnel. The threat is not limited to one region. Clayton noted that lethal plotting efforts have reached advanced stages. This activity is happening in the Middle East. It is also occurring in certain other countries.

The intelligence chief raised a practical concern for the State Department. He said the information is relevant to a wider group of people. Currently, not everyone who might be at risk has access to the details. Clayton explained that cleared senior members of Rubio’s team already have the data. He also offered Rubio an additional briefing to cover more ground.

Clayton promised to work on the classification levels. He wants to downgrade as much of the intelligence as possible. This step would allow Rubio to share details more broadly. State Department staff could then know what to watch for. The memo itself was marked as unclassified. It did not name specific targets or describe exact attack methods.

The warning arrives as the State Department changes its footprint abroad. Officials are scaling back diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern countries. They cite fears of Iranian retaliation as a key reason. There is also the possibility of renewed US military operations against Tehran. These factors are driving decisions on personnel safety.

Washington recently ordered nonessential employees to leave Saudi Arabia. This move followed an escalation in attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. Reports indicate that similar staff reductions are happening elsewhere. Embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan are seeing further cuts. Some diplomats had only recently returned to these posts.

President Donald Trump kept military options on the table on Friday. He suggested the US could act again if talks stall. He referenced a previous operation called Epic Fury. He said the US might do another similar operation. He added that Iran might choose to agree to a deal instead. The memo highlights the growing tension between diplomatic efforts and military readiness.