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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US intelligence has warned that Iran has stepped up efforts to assassinate American diplomats and officials in the Middle East and beyond, with some alleged plots reaching advanced stages, Axios reported Saturday, as Washington reduces staffing at several embassies amid fears of renewed regional conflict.
In a memorandum dated October 23 and addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned that Tehran had significantly intensified efforts to target US personnel, according to the document obtained by Axios.
"The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries," Clayton wrote.
The intelligence chief also warned that information about the alleged plots needed to be shared more widely with US personnel, beyond those currently authorized to receive it.
The warning comes as the US State Department moves to reduce its diplomatic presence across the Middle East, citing growing security threats to American personnel.
Washington has ordered nonessential government employees and their families to leave its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, including the embassy in Riyadh and consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran.
The State Department is also reducing staffing at its embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, although the missions will remain open and personnel have not been ordered to leave.
US officials told the Associated Press that threats from Iran and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels were behind the latest security measures. The State Department had initially cited Houthi threats without directly referring to Iran.
American officials have denied that the diplomatic drawdowns are linked to reported preparations for fresh US or Israeli military strikes against Iran.
The developments come amid renewed threats between Washington and Tehran, more than seven months after the United States and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran on February 28.
Speaking at a rally in Florida on Friday, US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of further military action against Iran if Tehran refuses to reach an agreement with Washington.
"We may do another little Operation Epic Fury," Trump said, referring to the US military campaign against Iran.
The renewed threats come ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, with the conflict and disruptions to energy supplies pushing up fuel prices and adding pressure on Trump's administration.
Tensions have also persisted in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of global oil consumption normally passes.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that US military bases in the region could face attacks if Washington continues assisting commercial vessels passing through the strait.
Diplomatic efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations have so far failed to produce a breakthrough, leaving the possibility of renewed hostilities hanging over the region.
