Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton issued an intelligence memo on Friday, October 23, 2026, warning that Iranian efforts to target U.S. personnel have substantially increased. The memo, addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated that lethal plotting efforts by Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached "advanced stages" in the Middle East and other countries.
The warning follows a series of security escalations in the Persian Gulf region involving Iran-backed Houthi rebels. On Wednesday, October 21, the State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and their families from the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks ramped up. While officials initially attributed staffing changes to Houthi activity, the declassified memo indicates that direct threats from Iran are also driving these security decisions.
Intelligence received through various channels prompted Clayton's warning, though the specific nature of the plots was not detailed in the unclassified text. The State Department noted that hostilities in the region, particularly the war between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, have the potential to escalate rapidly. Recent Houthi strikes have targeted civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including airports in Riyadh and the King Fahd airport, resulting in civilian casualties.
The shift in embassy status to "ordered departure" and the "restricted operating status" designation for other regional posts represent a change in how the U.S. manages its diplomatic presence. U.S. officials stated that these security environments are being constantly evaluated, suggesting that personnel at other embassies in the region may face staffing adjustments depending on further intelligence regarding Iranian or Houthi activity.
What happens next depends on the security environment and the outcome of regional hostilities. While President Donald Trump suggested in a Florida rally on October 24 that further military intervention could occur, administration officials previously indicated that no additional strikes on Iran would take place before the November midterms. The State Department has not provided a date for when evacuated personnel might return to Saudi Arabia. Federal law enforcement, including the FBI, continues to investigate Iranian intelligence and military operations, such as a murder-for-hire charge announced on October 22 against an Iranian intelligence network.