US intelligence memo warns Iranian plots against Americans have reached advanced stages
A US intelligence memo warns that Iranian plots against American citizens in the Middle East have reached advanced stages, according to Al Jazeera. The memo was sent by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Axios was the first to report on it, and the memo has since been declassified, which means its contents are now public.
The memo states that US agencies received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target American personnel overseas. The Hill reported that it warns of lethal Iranian plots to kill Americans.
The New York Times, citing unnamed US officials, reported that threats to American officials, including ambassadors, had been assessed in recent weeks. Those officials also said Iran had lined up potential targets in Europe, and that some intelligence indicates Iranian operatives are already active within the United States. The Times cited a US official as confirming the memo's authenticity on behalf of the Trump administration. According to the officials it cited, the threat to US citizens in the Middle East is assessed at its highest level since the US-Israel war on Iran began in February.
The war began on February 28, 2026, according to the State Department's travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates. The department's advisory for Qatar says the hostilities have brought an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks. Its advisory for Iran tells US citizens there to leave immediately, and warns of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and arbitrary detention.
Reuters reported that Iran has drawn up detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the US and Israel attack Iran again. On October 23, President Trump said the US may carry out another military operation against Iran.
Earlier, in July, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had shared new intelligence with the US indicating a fresh Iranian plan to kill President Trump. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence's 2026 Annual Threat Assessment, published in March, stated that Iran and its proxies remain capable of attacking US and allied interests in the Middle East, and continue to do so.
The officials cited have not publicly detailed the specific targets.
