Clayton Orders Embassy Staff Cuts

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent a memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target US personnel abroad. The internal document, first reported by Axios, states that lethal plots are now in advanced stages in the Middle East and other regions. This assessment marks the highest level of threat to American officials since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, 2026.

The State Department announced on Wednesday that it is removing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. This decision follows escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. US officials told The New York Times that Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials are driving the reductions. The move signals a shift toward a more defensive posture for American diplomats in the region.

Quiet staff reductions have also been reported at six other missions. CNN identified embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon as undergoing similar cuts. A US official described the threats to citizens in the Middle East as being at their peak since the conflict started. These actions occur as Washington considers a new military campaign following next month's mid-term elections.

Intelligence agencies have also flagged potential threats beyond the Middle East. Unnamed officials told The New York Times that Iran has identified targets for American officials in Europe. Some intelligence suggests Iranian operatives are already active inside the United States. Although Washington has not commented publicly on the memo, one official confirmed its authenticity to The Times. Another official noted that Iran may lack the capacity to execute all its planned attacks.

The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the war began. Iranian officials have responded to the increased US presence and recent strikes. On Wednesday, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi stated that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US renewed attacks. He claimed that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles had improved.

Reuters reported that Tehran has detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new US-Israeli attacks occur. Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be hit if war resumes. These threats add a technological dimension to the conflict, potentially affecting global communications infrastructure.

In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump and other politicians on orders from the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton, allegedly offering $300,000 to accomplices in the US. The US intelligence community stated last year that Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally, particularly those linked to the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

This month, US authorities pulled bombers from an airbase in England due to fears of a possible attack. The move followed a security incident at the base. UK authorities subsequently arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence. These recent developments underscore the growing operational reach of Iranian intelligence services against US assets.