A U.S. intelligence memorandum reveals a concerning rise in Iran’s attempts to target American citizens overseas. Lethal plotting against U.S. personnel has reportedly reached advanced stages, particularly across the Middle East and other regions.
The unclassified memo, issued on October 23 by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton and sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlights that intelligence gathered from various channels indicates a significant increase in Iranian efforts to compromise U.S. citizens. The memo states that these lethal plots are progressing in both the Middle East and other areas.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe was also included in the memo’s distribution, which U.S. officials later verified as legitimate, following initial reporting by Barak Ravid of Axios.
Clayton emphasized that the intelligence pertains to a broader group than just those currently permitted to view it. Plans are underway to downgrade the classification of pertinent materials to facilitate wider sharing with State Department personnel.
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Scoop: U.S. intelligence finds Iran has "substantially increased" its efforts to target American diplomats & officials in the Middle East and beyond, with lethal plots reaching "advanced stages," per memo to Secretary of State Rubio. My story on @axios https://t.co/JpDxTvWdpT pic.twitter.com/OHJRSIOnJd
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) October 24, 2026
This memo aligns with recent changes to U.S. diplomatic assignments in the area. Earlier this week, the State Department directed family members of non-emergency U.S. government employees to depart Saudi Arabia due to escalating threats from Iran-backed Houthi rebels, including missile assaults on the kingdom. Additionally, staffing reductions were noted at embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates as some facilities shifted to restricted operations.
Officials indicated these actions were driven by ongoing assessments of security conditions, including risks from Houthi aggressions and Iranian threats toward U.S. representatives. The department had also reconfirmed travel advisories for Americans traveling in the Middle East in September.
These recent developments come amid rising tensions and the potential for renewed confrontation in U.S.-Iran relations, which had been relatively stable in recent times. Recent analysis suggested that Iran might be gearing up for a more aggressive stance if large-scale military actions by the U.S. were to resume.
Some evaluations have placed the threat level to Americans in the Middle East and beyond at its highest since the onset of the conflict. There are indications of possible Iranian operatives present within the U.S. and potential targets identified in Europe, although officials have acknowledged some constraints on Iran’s capabilities abroad.
President Donald Trump has paused any major U.S. military strikes as the November midterm elections approach while considering options for possible escalation of conflict afterward. Sources familiar with operational planning suggest strategies for short, intensive campaigns targeting Iranian energy resources, missile and drone capacities, and nuclear facilities.
