A US intelligence memo has warned of advanced Iranian plots to assassinate American diplomats and government officials, according to a document obtained by Axios. The memo, dated 23 October 2026 and addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, says Tehran has significantly stepped up efforts to target Americans in the Middle East and beyond, with preparations for deadly attacks reportedly reaching advanced stages.

The intelligence has raised serious concerns in Washington and, according to US officials cited by Axios, is one of the reasons the State Department is reducing staffing at several American embassies across the Middle East, amid fears of a wider regional conflict.

The one-page, unclassified memo is addressed to Rubio in his capacity as both Secretary of State and national security adviser. It bears the name of Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton and was also copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

The document stresses that protecting US government personnel overseas is a top priority for the State Department, the intelligence community and the Trump administration as a whole.

Clayton says US intelligence agencies have gathered information through various channels indicating that Iran has substantially intensified its efforts to target American personnel.

According to the memo, Iranian plans for lethal attacks against US citizens have reached advanced stages, both in the Middle East and in certain other countries.

The document does not identify specific targets or name the countries outside the Middle East where such plots may be under way. Nor does it describe the nature of the planned attacks or how they might be carried out.

Intelligence memo to Rubio warns of threats to a wider group of US personnel

Of particular significance is the Director of National Intelligence’s warning that information about the Iranian plots needs to be shared with more American officials than are currently authorised to access it.

Clayton explains in the memo that the intelligence is relevant to protecting a larger number of people than those presently cleared to receive it.

He confirms that the information has already been passed to senior State Department officials with the required security clearances.

Clayton also offers to brief Rubio personally and to downgrade the classification of sensitive intelligence to the greatest extent possible, enabling the Secretary of State to share the information with more State Department employees.

The initiative reflects concerns that the threats may extend beyond a small group of senior officials, potentially affecting the safety of a much wider range of American personnel serving overseas.

US embassy staffing reduced amid fears of Houthi attacks

Meanwhile, the United States is reducing its diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern countries.

Earlier this week, the State Department ordered family members and non-essential personnel to leave the US Embassy in Riyadh, as well as the American consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

On Friday, according to a US official cited by Axios, Washington also ordered staffing reductions at its embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan.

The official explained that the decision was driven by the threat of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and intelligence concerning Iranian terrorist plots, with the aim of maintaining only essential staffing levels at the diplomatic missions.

CNN was the first news organisation to report the staffing reductions at the four embassies.

According to Axios, US officials are also concerned that the Iranian-backed Houthis could expand their attacks beyond Saudi Arabia, targeting other countries in the region.

Adding to the already tense security situation is the possibility of renewed US and Israeli military operations against Iran, potentially after the American midterm elections.

Addressing that prospect at a rally in Florida on Friday, Donald Trump said the United States might carry out another small-scale Operation Epic Fury, or the Iranians might agree to a deal.

The US president added that, if Iran’s leadership acted wisely, it would choose to enter meaningful negotiations, although he expressed doubts about whether Tehran would do so.

The Axios revelations and the US intelligence memo therefore come at a time when Washington is taking precautionary measures to protect its personnel abroad, while the possibility of further military escalation across the region remains very much on the table.