U.S. Intelligence Warns of Advanced Iranian Plots Against Officials

U.S. intelligence officials have warned that some Iranian plots targeting American diplomats and officials abroad have reached an advanced stage, prompting a request to alert more government personnel to the threat.

In a one-page, unclassified memo submitted to Rubio on Oct. 23, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton told Secretary of State Rubio that intelligence showed a sharp rise in Iranian activity against U.S. diplomats and officials in the Middle East and elsewhere. The memo described some plots as lethal and said they had reached advanced stages.

Clayton asked Rubio to make the warning available to additional government employees who lack access to the sensitive information. He also urged lowering its classification as much as possible so Rubio could alert more people who may face risk. Senior State Department officials had already received the underlying intelligence.

U.S. officials cited the intelligence as one reason the State Department reduced staffing at several U.S. embassies in the Middle East. The memo named no targets, identified no countries beyond the region and gave no details about the plots.