DNI Clayton Informs Rubio Iran Has Accelerated Kill Plots Against Americans

Washington intelligence agencies have reported a sharp escalation in threats facing American citizens overseas, according to a document released on Friday. The assessment marks a shift in how the United States views the immediate danger posed by Tehran's security apparatus in the Middle East and beyond.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton informed Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iranian efforts to target U.S. personnel have moved beyond initial planning. Clayton wrote that lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and certain other countries. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the memo, which was obtained by CBS News.

The intelligence community has identified a substantial financial increase behind these operations. Iranian spending on lethal plots against Americans rose by $2 billion, indicating a sustained commitment to these objectives. The memo does not name specific targets or identify the exact locations of the plots, nor does it state that an attack is imminent.

Clayton noted that the intelligence community is working to downgrade the classification of sensitive information gathered through various channels. This process will allow State Department staff to share critical details more widely among diplomatic personnel. The goal is to ensure that those on the ground have the necessary context to evaluate the security environment.

The warning arrives as the Trump administration evaluates whether to resume military strikes against Iran. Security precautions have already tightened 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 embassies in the region changed their staffing under restricted operations status, a measure that allows them to reduce personnel without formally declaring an ordered departure.

A U.S. official stated that the department constantly evaluates new information about the security environment. The threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots is shaping decisions on staffing at embassies on restricted operations status. The military has also been quietly shrinking its presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats.

Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran, have carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia targeting 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. Although the United States and Iran have avoided striking each other in recent weeks, President Trump suggested at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday that another operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement.