Clayton Memo Orders Staff Cuts at Seven US Missions

US intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran is in the advanced stages of planning attacks on American personnel abroad. The warning, detailed in an internal memo, has led to the withdrawal of non-essential staff from seven US diplomatic missions in the Middle East.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent the memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to US officials and reports from Axios and The New York Times, the document states that agencies have gathered intelligence showing Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target US personnel. The memo specifies that lethal plots are reaching advanced stages in the Middle East and other regions.

The threat environment has escalated since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, 2026. Officials told The New York Times that threats to US citizens in the Middle East are now at the highest level since that date. The assessment arrives as Washington considers a new military campaign following the US mid-term elections scheduled for next month.

President Donald Trump addressed the situation on Friday, stating the US may launch another operation using the codename for the current conflict. He described the potential action as a "little epic fury." The comments followed reports that the US and Israel may be preparing for renewed strikes.

The State Department announced on Wednesday that it was removing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. The department cited escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Subsequent reports from CNN and other outlets indicate that staff reductions are also occurring at missions in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon.

A US official told The New York Times that Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials are driving these decisions. The memo also notes that threats to American officials, including ambassadors, have been assessed in recent weeks. Intelligence suggests Iran has identified potential targets in Europe and that operatives are active inside the United States.

Iran has not publicly responded to the memo. However, Pentagon data confirms that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the war began. On Wednesday, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi stated that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US renewed attacks. He added that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles had improved.

Reuters reported that senior Iranian security officials have detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new US-Israeli attacks occur. Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, warned that cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be hit if the war resumes.

US authorities have a history of accusing Iran of plotting against Americans. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate Trump and other politicians on orders from the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton. The US intelligence community stated last year that Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally.

This month, US authorities pulled bombers from an airbase in England over fears of a possible attack. The move followed a security incident at the base, after which UK authorities arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence.