Iran escalates threats against US personnel, intelligence memo warns

An intelligence memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warns that Iran has escalated efforts to target US personnel, with lethal plots against American citizens reaching advanced stages. The warning was sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 23. The alert follows Washington's decision to reduce staffing at its Saudi Arabia mission due to intensified attacks by Iran-allied Houthi forces. The State Department also updated travel advisories for over a dozen Gulf and Middle East countries, citing increased threats from Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots. The regional conflict, nearing its ninth month, has weighed on President Donald Trump's approval ratings ahead of November 3 midterm elections. The memo was unclassified and copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.