Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an Oct. 23 memo that Iran has "substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel" abroad, and that lethal plots against Americans have reached "advanced stages" in the Middle East and certain other countries.1,3,4
The one-page, unclassified memo was obtained by Axios and CBS News, and The Hill described it as a declassified intelligence memo dated Friday. In it, Clayton wrote that intelligence about the Iranian plots needs to reach more U.S. personnel than are currently authorized to receive it. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the memo.1,3,4
U.S. officials told Axios that the intelligence is one reason the State Department is drawing down personnel at several American embassies across the Middle East, amid mounting fears of a broader regional conflict.1
The memo does not identify specific targets or the countries where plots are underway, and it does not describe the nature of the plots. It also does not indicate whether attacks may be imminent. Clayton wrote that "The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries."1,4
Clayton offered to downgrade as much of the sensitive intelligence as possible so that Rubio could share it more widely with personnel who could be at risk, Axios reported. The underlying intelligence has already been shared with senior State Department officials. CBS News said the intelligence community is working to downgrade sensitive intelligence, which was received through various channels, so that it can be shared more broadly with State Department personnel.1,4
The staffing changes began earlier this week, when the State Department ordered family members and nonessential personnel to leave the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran. Several other American embassies in the region adjusted their staffing under "restricted operations" status, which allows them to reduce the number of personnel without formally going on ordered departure.1,4
On Friday, the department also ordered reductions in U.S. diplomatic and government personnel at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan, a U.S. official said. "We decided that due to the threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots we need to reduce our footprint and keep only essential staff," the official said.1
A U.S. official told CBS News on Friday, "When it comes to our staffing at embassies, we constantly evaluate new information about the security environment." The official added, "The threat of Houthi attacks and of Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. officials are informing our decisions on staffing adjustments." A U.S. official and a senior U.S. military official also told CBS News this week that the military has been quietly reducing its footprint at posts in the Middle East because of ongoing threats.4
The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has stepped up drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, targeting oil infrastructure and airports. One strike on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport earlier this month killed at least a dozen people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds more. U.S. officials fear the Houthis could expand their attacks beyond Saudi Arabia to other countries in the region, Axios reported. Last weekend, U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other countries warned Americans to exercise caution because of the Houthi attacks.1,4
The United States and Iran have refrained from striking each other in recent weeks, but President Trump has not ruled out restarting hostilities after next month's midterm elections. The memo was issued as the Trump administration weighs resuming military strikes against Iran. Iran has also continued to take responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.1,4
At a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, Trump suggested the U.S. could launch another operation against Iran if Tehran does not reach an agreement. "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree," the president said, invoking the name of the U.S. military campaign launched in February. Axios rendered the remark as "Operation Epic Fury."1,4
Iranian officials were not quoted in the accounts of the memo, and the reports did not include a comment from the Houthi movement. Trump, speaking at the same rally, said of Iran, "If they're smart, they will just say, 'Let's get down to business,' but I doubt they will do that because perhaps they're not smart."1
