Iranian Threats: US Reduces Diplomatic Presence in Middle East

American intelligence agencies have determined that Iran is preparing specific strikes against US personnel overseas. An internal memo confirms that Tehran is in the advanced stages of plotting attacks in the Middle East and Europe. Washington has placed its diplomatic staff on high alert in response to these findings.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent the warning to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Clayton wrote that agencies gathered intelligence showing Iran substantially increased its efforts to target Americans. The memo notes that lethal plots have reached advanced stages in multiple countries. Unnamed officials told The New York Times that threats to ambassadors have been assessed in recent weeks. Some intelligence suggests Iranian operatives are already active inside the United States.

The State Department announced on Wednesday that it is removing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. The department cited escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Other US media outlets report quiet staff reductions at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official told The Times that Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots are driving these decisions.

Officials told The Times that threats to US citizens in the Middle East are at the highest level since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. This assessment comes as reports suggest the US and Israel may prepare a new military campaign after next month's mid-term elections. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US may do another little epic fury, using the codename for the war.

Iran has not responded to the memo. Its officials have repeatedly threatened and carried out attacks on US bases and those of its allies in the region. The Pentagon confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the war began. Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said on Wednesday that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US renewed attacks. He added that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles had improved.

Reuters cited two senior Iranian security officials who reported that Tehran has detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf. This would occur if new US-Israeli attacks happen. Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezai warned that cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be hit if war resumes.

US authorities have long accused Iran of plotting against Americans. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate Trump and other politicians on the orders of the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with trying to arrange the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton. He allegedly offered $300,000 to people in the US to carry it out. This month, the US pulled bombers from an airbase in England over fears of a possible attack. UK authorities arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence after a security incident at the base.