Iranian lethal plotting efforts targeting United States citizens and personnel in the Middle East have reached advanced stages, according to an intelligence memo sent by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday. A U.S. official confirmed the authenticity of the document.
Intelligence Memo Warnings and Regional Drawdowns
The intelligence warning arrives days after sources informed NBC News that the U.S. military has quietly scaled back its troop presence at various bases across the Middle East. Concurrently, the State Department ordered a further reduction in staff at multiple diplomatic posts in the region, encompassing Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, as confirmed by a State Department official. These specific diplomatic missions have already operated on a restricted status with limited staffing since the commencement of the war.
This is inaccurate. The U.S. Department of State issued an ordered departure for non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only.Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on… https://t.co/yNrCwDcfIg
Director Clayton noted in the memo to Secretary Rubio that the security risk is relevant to more individuals than currently hold the necessary security clearance. The communication stated that efforts would be made to downgrade intelligence so it can be shared with State Department personnel at the secretary’s discretion. This force reduction mirrors similar drawdowns initiated by the Defense Department and the State Department around the start of the conflict with Iran in February.
A U.S. official explained the operational adjustments by pointing to specific regional threats. “When it comes to our staffing at embassies, we constantly evaluate new information about the security environment,” the official said, adding that “the threat of Houthi attacks and of Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. officials are informing our decisions on staffing adjustments for embassies on Restricted Status in the region.”
Military Options Presented to President Trump
President Donald Trump stated this week during a rally in Florida that he is considering another operation against Iran following months of shipping strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and limited progress toward a long-term ceasefire. “We may do another little Epic Fury,” he told the crowd, utilizing the U.S. codename for the initial wave of strikes. “If they’re smart, they’ll just say, let’s get down to business,” he added.
This statement followed recent briefings where senior U.S. military officials presented President Trump with options for new strikes inside Iran. According to a U.S. official and a former U.S. official familiar with the briefings, the proposals include major strikes targeting tunnels or entrances of Iranian nuclear facilities, such as Pickaxe Mountain, as well as strategic islands.
The proposed military targets also feature Kharg Island—which accounts for the vast majority of Iran’s oil production and serves as an economic lifeline for the country—and Qeshm Island located in the Strait of Hormuz.
| Strategic Location | Facility or Economic Significance | Proposed Target Context |
|---|---|---|
| Pickaxe Mountain | Nuclear facility infrastructure | Tunnel and entrance strike options presented to the U.S. President |
| Kharg Island | Primary oil production hub | Evaluated as a strategic economic target amid shipping disruptions |
| Qeshm Island | Strait of Hormuz waterway control | Included in military options following Houthi and Iranian actions |
Diplomatic Rejections and Embassy Status Changes
Last month, Iran proposed a fresh diplomatic deal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz within days. President Trump publicly rejected the proposal without specifying a reason, asserting that Iran sought an agreement because they were losing badly, and accused Iran of attempting to drive up oil prices ahead of the midterm elections.
Responding to those assertions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated, “We don’t care about U.S. midterm elections. We care about our national interests.”
On Wednesday, chiefs of mission at multiple U.S. diplomatic posts across the Middle East were formally notified that their posts would operate with reduced personnel. The State Department announced on the same day that the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia is placed under ordered departure status, meaning the facility will function solely with emergency staff.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott wrote on X regarding the measures, “The safety and security of Department personnel and their families remain our highest priority, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to protect and support them.”
