US intelligence confirms advanced Iranian plots against American personnel abroad

The United States has entered a new phase of heightened security in the Middle East following a formal assessment that Iran is actively preparing attacks on American citizens. This development follows the start of a broader conflict in late February and signals a shift from defensive posturing to active threat management for working families and diplomats stationed in the region.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent a memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicating that intelligence agencies have gathered evidence of substantial increases in Iranian efforts to target US personnel overseas. The document states that lethal plots are currently in advanced stages in the Middle East and other parts of the world. While Washington has not issued a public statement, a US official confirmed to The New York Times that the memo is authentic.

The threat level for US citizens in the Middle East is now considered the highest since the war began. Intelligence suggests that Iranian operatives have identified potential targets in Europe and are already active inside the United States. Officials note that while Iran has expressed ambitions for widespread attacks, it may lack the full capacity to execute all of them. This assessment arrives as the US and Israel consider new military actions following the upcoming mid-term elections.

In response to these risks, the State Department announced on Wednesday that it is removing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. This decision cites escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Houthis in Yemen. Reports indicate similar quiet reductions are occurring at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official stated that both Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots are driving these staffing changes.

Iran has not formally responded to the intelligence memo, but its officials have maintained an aggressive stance. Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guard, said on Wednesday that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US resumes attacks. He emphasized that Iranian missiles have improved in quality, range, and power. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the war started on February 28.

Recent reports from Reuters indicate that Tehran has detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new attacks occur. Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that data centers and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could also become targets. This focus on digital infrastructure highlights the growing complexity of the conflict for global connectivity and economic stability.

This latest warning fits into a longer history of US accusations against Iran. In March, a Pakistani national was convicted of plotting to assassinate President Trump and other politicians on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of John Bolton. This month, the US also pulled bombers from an airbase in England after a security incident led to arrests of men suspected of working with Iranian intelligence.