US Intelligence Flags Advanced Iranian Plans to Target Diplomats Abroad

The United States is currently engaged in a conflict with Iran that has entered its seventh month, creating a tense backdrop for American operations worldwide.

US intelligence agencies have determined that Iran is in the final stages of preparing specific attacks against American personnel stationed outside the country. This assessment was detailed in an internal memo sent by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The document indicates that Tehran has significantly ramped up its efforts to identify and target US citizens, with several lethal plots now considered to be in advanced phases across the Middle East and other global locations.

According to reports from The New York Times, recent intelligence assessments suggest that threats to high-level American officials, including ambassadors, have intensified over the past several weeks. The information also points to the selection of potential targets in Europe. Furthermore, some data indicates that Iranian operatives may already be active within the United States. While the White House has not issued a public statement regarding the memo, one official confirmed to the Times that the document is authentic. Another official offered a more measured perspective, noting that while the intentions are clear, Iran may lack the logistical capacity to execute every planned attack.

The level of threat to US citizens in the Middle East is currently described as the highest since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. This heightened alert comes as reports suggest that Washington and Jerusalem may be coordinating a new military campaign following the US mid-term elections scheduled for next month. President Donald Trump commented on the situation on Friday, stating that the US might launch another major offensive using the codename associated with the current war.

In response to these developments, the State Department announced on Wednesday that it is removing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. The primary reason cited is the increasing frequency of attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Other US media outlets have reported similar quiet reductions at diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official told the Times that both the Houthi attacks and the specific Iranian terror plots targeting US officials are driving these staffing decisions.

Iran has not yet issued a direct response to the intelligence memo. However, its officials have repeatedly threatened and executed attacks on US military bases and those of its regional allies. The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the start of the war. On Wednesday, Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guard, stated that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US resumed attacks. He added that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles have improved, signaling a shift away from purely retaliatory tactics.

Further reporting from Reuters, citing two senior Iranian security officials, indicates that Tehran has detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new US-Israeli attacks occur. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's security chief, has also warned that data centers and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could become targets if the war resumes. These warnings highlight a broader focus on critical infrastructure beyond traditional military sites.

This situation fits a long-standing pattern of US authorities accusing Iran of plotting against Americans. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate President Trump and other politicians on the orders of the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton, allegedly offering $300,000 to operatives in the US. Last year, the US intelligence community predicted that Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally, particularly those believed to be involved in the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

Earlier this month, the US abruptly withdrew bombers from an airbase in England due to fears of a possible attack. This precautionary move followed a security incident at the base, after which UK authorities arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence services.