US Intelligence Warns Iran Is Preparing Advanced Attacks on Americans

American citizens and government officials abroad face a heightened threat of violence, according to a new intelligence assessment. US intelligence agencies have determined that Iranian operations targeting Americans have moved from planning to active preparation. This shift signals that specific attacks are now in the final phases of development.

The warning was delivered in a memorandum dated October 23. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent the document to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A copy also went to CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The memo was marked unclassified and did not name specific targets, attack methods, or the exact locations outside the Middle East where plots are taking shape.

Clayton stated that multiple intelligence channels confirmed Iran’s intensified push. He wrote that lethal plotting efforts against US citizens have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and certain other countries. The assessment indicates that the threat is no longer limited to diplomatic enclaves but extends to the general American population in vulnerable regions.

The intelligence brief notes that the information is currently relevant to a wider group than those currently cleared to receive it. Clayton explained that senior members of Rubio’s team with appropriate security clearances have already seen the underlying data. He offered Rubio an additional briefing to discuss the details further.

To allow State Department staff at risk to see the warning, Clayton promised to work on downgrading the classification of as much of the intelligence as possible. This administrative step would enable broader distribution within the department. The goal is to ensure that personnel who might be targeted have access to the latest threat indicators.

The memo arrives as the State Department reduces its diplomatic footprint in several Middle Eastern nations. Washington ordered nonessential employees and family members to leave Saudi Arabia earlier this week. This move followed an escalation in attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. Further staff reductions were ordered at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan.

President Donald Trump kept military options open during a speech on Friday. He said the United States could conduct another operation similar to the recent Operation Epic Fury if Tehran does not reach an agreement. Trump stated, "We may do another little Epic Fury. Or they'll agree." Israel has urged Washington to launch new strikes sooner, though those efforts have not yet succeeded.

The US government continues to weigh diplomatic solutions against the possibility of renewed military action. The intelligence assessment provides a factual basis for these decisions. It confirms that Iran is actively working to harm American personnel. The next steps will depend on whether diplomatic channels yield a deal or if military planners advance their operational plans.