Clayton Memo: Iran Spend on Lethal Plots Against Americans Rises

The U.S. intelligence community has identified a sharp escalation in Iranian activities aimed at killing American personnel overseas.

In an unclassified memo dated Friday, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iranian efforts to target U.S. citizens have substantially increased. Clayton stated that lethal plotting has reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other unspecified countries. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the correspondence. The document confirms a shift in operational tempo but does not name specific targets or indicate an immediate timeline for an attack.

The memo notes that the intelligence community is working to declassify sensitive data gathered from various channels. This process aims to allow State Department staff to access more detailed threat assessments. The timing of the warning coincides with the Trump administration’s ongoing deliberations regarding the resumption of military strikes against Iran. Security measures at American diplomatic and military sites in the region have tightened in parallel with these internal discussions.

This week, the State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia. Several other U.S. embassies in the region have moved to restricted operations status, a designation that permits staff reductions without a formal departure order. A U.S. official told CBS News on Friday that the department constantly evaluates the security environment. The official cited Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots as key factors shaping staffing decisions at these locations.

Military officials indicated that the U.S. has quietly reduced its presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats. Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran, have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. A strike on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport earlier this month killed several people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds. In response, U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries took precautionary steps last weekend.

Although the United States and Iran have avoided direct strikes in recent weeks, President Trump has not ruled out restarting hostilities after next month's midterm elections. Iran continues to claim responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. During a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, President Trump suggested another operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree, the president said, referring to the U.S. military campaign launched in February.