US intelligence chief says Iran intensified attack plans

US intelligence chief Jay Clayton said Iran has intensified plans to attack American targets in the Middle East and other countries, according to a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 23. Clayton stated the Iranian plans target US citizens and are in advanced stages, though the one-page memo does not identify specific targets or countries outside the Middle East, nor indicate imminent attacks. The State Department has reduced staff at four embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the UAE, following earlier withdrawals from Saudi Arabia. The moves come amid rising threats attributed to Iran and its ally, the Houthi extremist group in Yemen. US warships, including the nuclear-powered supercarrier USS George Washington, are preparing for potential military escalation, with Captain Nicholas DeLeo saying the vessel is ready to respond reflexively or proactively.