US cuts staffing at four Middle East embassies over Iran threats

The State Department is reducing staffing at four U.S. embassies in the Middle East due to intelligence indicating Iran has intensified efforts to target American personnel in the region and elsewhere. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton informed Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a memo that Iranian lethal plotting against U.S. citizens has reached advanced stages. The staffing changes affect embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which will remain open under restricted operations status. The threats are linked to Iran and Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, though officials deny any connection to potential U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Unlike Saudi Arabia, where nonessential personnel were ordered to leave, staff in these four countries are not compelled to depart.