DNI Clayton orders staff cuts as Iran plots mature

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has warned that Iranian efforts to target American personnel abroad have entered their advanced stages. The internal memo, sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicates that US intelligence agencies have detected a substantial increase in plots against US staff in the Middle East and other regions.

In response to the warning, the State Department announced on Wednesday that it is removing non-essential personnel from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. This decision follows escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis. Reports indicate that similar quiet staff reductions are underway at US embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon.

A US official told The New York Times that Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials are the primary drivers behind these withdrawals. The official noted that threats to US citizens in the Middle East are now at their highest level since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. Another official cautioned that while the threats are serious, Iran may lack the capacity to execute all of its ambitions.

The intelligence assessment suggests that Iranian operatives are already active inside the United States. Additionally, US agencies have identified potential targets for American officials, including ambassadors, in Europe. Washington has not issued a public statement on the memo, though a US official confirmed its authenticity to The Times.

President Donald Trump addressed the situation on Friday, stating that the US may launch another operation. He referred to the conflict using its codename, describing a potential new military campaign as another little epic fury. This comes as reports suggest the US and Israel are preparing for renewed military action following next month's US mid-term elections.

Iran has not directly responded to the Clayton memo. However, Hossein Mohebbi, the spokesman for the Revolutionary Guard, said on Wednesday that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US resumes attacks. Mohebbi stated that Iran would no longer limit itself to retaliation and claimed that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles have improved.

Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's security chief, warned that undersea communications cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be targeted if war resumes. Reuters reported that two senior Iranian security officials confirmed Tehran has detailed plans to hit Gulf communications cables in the event of new US-Israeli strikes.

The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the start of the war in February. This month, US authorities abruptly moved bombers from an airbase in England after a security incident. UK authorities subsequently arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence.

US courts have previously convicted individuals linked to Iranian plots. In March, a Pakistani national was found guilty of plotting to assassinate President 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 intelligence community last year stated that Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally, particularly officials involved in the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. The current staff withdrawals mark a tangible shift in diplomatic posture as the security environment in the region tightens.