US Intelligence Chief Warns Iran Is Stepping Up Plots Against American Personnel Abroad

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has cautioned that Iran has "substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel" overseas, according to an unclassified memo obtained by CBS News. The warning, dated Friday, says Iranian plots to kill Americans have progressed to "advanced stages."

"The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries," Clayton wrote. The memo was addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on it. Axios was the first outlet to report on its contents.

The document does not name specific targets or countries where the alleged plots are being developed. It also does not say whether any attack could be imminent. Clayton added that the intelligence community is working to downgrade the classification of sensitive intelligence gathered through various channels, so it can be shared more widely with State Department staff.

The memo arrives as the Trump administration weighs whether to resume military strikes against Iran. It also comes amid a series of security precautions at American diplomatic and military sites in the region. Earlier this week, the State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. Several other U.S. embassies in the region changed their staffing under "restricted operations" status, which lets them reduce personnel without formally declaring an ordered departure.

A U.S. official told CBS News on Friday that the department "constantly" evaluates new information about the security environment. The official said the threat of Houthi attacks and of Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. officials are shaping decisions on staffing at embassies on restricted operations status. A U.S. official and a senior U.S. military official also said this week that the military has been quietly shrinking its presence at posts in the Middle East because of continuing threats.

Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran, have carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia that target oil infrastructure and airports. One strike earlier this month on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport killed people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds more. Last weekend, U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other countries took steps in response to the Houthi attacks.

Although the United States and Iran have avoided striking each other in recent weeks, President Trump has not ruled out restarting hostilities after next month's midterm elections. Iran has also continued to claim responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, Mr. 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.