Clayton Memo Triggers Staff Withdrawals From Seven Middle East Missions

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton notified Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday that US agencies have reached an assessment that Iran is in the advanced stages of plotting against American personnel abroad. The internal memo, first reported by Axios and corroborated by The New York Times, states that Tehran has substantially increased efforts to target US officials. This warning has placed diplomatic missions in the region on high alert.

The State Department responded by removing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. Officials cited escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Houthis as the primary driver. Quiet reductions are also under way at missions in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official told The New York Times that Houthi strikes and Iranian terror plots are the specific reasons for these withdrawals.

Intelligence reports indicate that threats to US citizens in the Middle East are now at the highest level since the war with Iran began on February 28. Unnamed officials said Iran has also identified potential targets for American ambassadors in Europe. Some assessments suggest Iranian operatives are already active inside the United States. One official noted that while the threats are serious, Iran may lack the capacity to execute all of its plans.

President Donald Trump commented on the situation on Friday, stating that the US may do another little epic fury. This phrase serves as the codename for the ongoing conflict. Reports suggest that Washington and Jerusalem may be preparing a new military campaign after the mid-term elections next month.

Iran has not publicly responded to the memo. However, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said on Wednesday that Tehran would adopt an offensive strategy if US attacks resume. He stated that Iranian missiles have improved in quality and range. Security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that undersea cables, data centers, and AI facilities could be targeted if war returns.

The Pentagon confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the start of the war. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate Trump on orders from the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of John Bolton. This month, US bombers were pulled from an airbase in England after UK authorities arrested men suspected of working with Iranian intelligence.