United States intelligence agencies have detected a substantial increase in suspected Iranian attempts to target American diplomats and government officials, both in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, according to a report by Axios.
A memo dated October 23, obtained by the US news outlet, warned that some suspected plots involving potential loss of life had reached “advanced stages”, raising concerns among American security officials about the safety of diplomatic personnel and government representatives.
The reported threat has prompted Washington to reduce staffing at several diplomatic missions in the Middle East, with the State Department seeking to limit the exposure of American personnel amid escalating regional tensions.
The United States is also monitoring the possibility of a wider campaign by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, whose attacks could extend beyond Saudi Arabia to other countries in the region.
The security concerns come as US President Donald Trump threatens further military action against Tehran if it fails to reach a diplomatic agreement with Washington. The prospect of renewed US and Israeli strikes against Iran, potentially after the US midterm elections, has added to fears of a broader regional confrontation.
Intelligence chief urges wider circulation of threat warnings
The unclassified memo addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton had urged the department to expand the circulation of intelligence warnings about suspected Iranian assassination operations.
Clayton cautioned that restrictions on access to the information could prevent American personnel who might be vulnerable to attacks from receiving critical security warnings.
The document does not identify the potential targets, provide details of the suspected operations or specify locations outside the Middle East. However, it confirms that the intelligence has been shared with senior officials within the State Department.
To ensure that more potentially exposed personnel are informed, Clayton proposed removing classified restrictions wherever possible. This would allow Rubio to distribute the threat assessments more widely among American officials who could be at risk.
Trump threatens another ‘Epic Fury’ operation
The intelligence concerns have coincided with Trump's warning that the United States could resume military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, the US president threatened what he described as “another little Epic Fury”, referring to the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran launched in February.
“We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree,” Trump said, according to Fox News.
“If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.' But, you know, I doubt they'll do that because perhaps they're not smart,” he added.
Trump adopted an aggressive stance towards Tehran, invoking his previous national security decisions while criticising the Iranian leadership. His remarks have added to uncertainty over whether Washington and Israel could launch fresh strikes, potentially after the US midterm elections.
US reduces staffing at diplomatic missions
The State Department has ordered reductions in staffing at several US diplomatic missions as officials assess the risks posed by suspected Iranian plots and potential Houthi attacks.
Last week, the department asked family members and nonessential personnel to leave the US Embassy in Riyadh and the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
A US official confirmed that Washington had also directed several diplomatic missions on Friday to reduce staffing, affecting American personnel in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan.
“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 told Axios.
CNN had also previously reported reductions in staffing at the four embassies.
The measures reflect growing concern in Washington that the escalating confrontation with Iran could expose American diplomatic facilities and personnel to attacks across a wider geographical area, beyond the immediate conflict zone.