DNI Memo Warns of Advanced Iranian Plots

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent a formal warning to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 23. The memorandum states that Iranian efforts to kill American officials and citizens have moved to an advanced stage.

Three key details emerged from the document. First, Clayton wrote that lethal plotting efforts against US citizens have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and certain other countries. Second, the intelligence chief noted that the threat extends beyond those currently cleared for the information. He confirmed that senior members of Rubio's team already have access to the underlying data and offered an additional briefing.

Third, Clayton promised to downgrade the classification of as much intelligence as possible. This step would allow Rubio to share the information more widely with State Department staff who may be at risk. The memo itself was marked unclassified and did not list specific targets, attack methods, or names of countries outside the Middle East.

The warning arrived one day after Axios obtained and reported on the document. A US official confirmed the memo's existence on Friday. Clayton included a copy of the memorandum for CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

Context for the alert includes a recent reduction in US diplomatic presence in the region. Washington ordered nonessential government employees and family members to leave Saudi Arabia earlier this week. The move followed an escalation in attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis. Axios reported that further staff reductions were ordered at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan. CNN reported on Friday that the US was speeding up the departure of diplomats and their families from several regional posts. Some of these personnel had recently returned after evacuations during earlier phases of the conflict with Iran.

President Donald Trump addressed the situation on Friday. He said the United States could carry out another operation similar to Operation Epic Fury if Tehran does not reach an agreement. "We may do another little Epic Fury. Or they'll agree," Trump said. Israel has urged Washington to launch new strikes on Iran sooner, though those efforts have not succeeded so far.