U.S. intelligence chief warns Iran is stepping up plots against Americans abroad

Security Warning

U.S. national intelligence chief Jay Clayton warned on Friday, October 23, 2026, that Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target Americans in West Asia and other countries. In an unclassified memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Mr. Clayton stated that lethal plotting efforts by Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages. Axios was first to report on the memo, which was also obtained by CBS News. The warning does not identify specific targets or countries where plots are underway, nor does it indicate if attacks are imminent.

Diplomatic Cuts

The intelligence warning follows Washington ordering non-essential U.S. embassy staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. Several other American embassies in the region adjusted staffing under restricted operations status. The kingdom has faced near-daily attacks this month from the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, including a strike on Riyadh's international airport that killed at least a dozen people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds more. U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other nations also warned citizens to exercise caution last weekend.

Military Posture

President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that the U.S. might launch renewed military operations against Iran, stating the country may do another little Epic Fury, which is the U.S. name for past attacks. He did not give any timing for potential renewed hostilities. The conflict began in late February with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed the country's supreme leader and senior military commanders. A U.S. official and a senior U.S. military official also noted that the military has been quietly reducing its footprint at posts in the region amid ongoing threats.

Context

Intelligence agencies routinely share threat assessments with diplomatic departments to help protect government personnel stationed abroad during periods of high geopolitical tension. These security evaluations directly influence decisions about embassy staffing levels and military readiness in volatile regions.