US intelligence warns Iran plots to assassinate American officials across Middle East

US intelligence has warned that Iran has "substantially increased" efforts to target American diplomats and officials, with lethal plots reaching "advanced stages," according to an October 23 memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio obtained by Axios. The memo, from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, does not identify specific targets or plot details but urges broader sharing of the intelligence among at-risk US personnel. The warning has contributed to the State Department reducing staffing at multiple embassies across the Middle East. The department ordered family members and nonessential personnel to leave posts in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan, citing threats from Iranian terror plots and Houthi attacks. President Trump also hinted at possible renewed military action against Iran, referencing "Operation Epic Fury" at a Florida rally on Friday.