Iran's advanced plots to kill U.S. officials abroad, intelligence memo warns

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a memo that Iran has reached "advanced stages" in plots to kill American officials abroad, citing "substantially increased" efforts to target U.S. personnel. The memo, sent Friday and confirmed by a U.S. official, said lethal plotting is advanced in the Middle East and other countries. The State Department is evaluating embassy staffing, including potential "restricted operations" status that would reduce personnel and evacuate diplomats' families. The warning follows the State Department ordering nonemergency staff out of Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks. The U.S.-Israel war on Iran since February has expanded regional hostilities, with 50,000 U.S. troops deployed and rising fuel prices affecting midterm elections.