An intelligence memo warned that Iranian efforts to target U.S. personnel have advanced, amid heightened threats in the Middle East
Two senior Iranian officials told The New York Times that Tehran is preparing to target U.S. diplomats and personnel, calling the tactics “fair game” after U.S. and Israeli targeting of Iranian officials, The Media Line reported. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton’s Oct. 23 memo warned of substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel, with lethal plots at advanced stages.
More context
The Media Line reported Sunday that two senior Iranian officials had told The New York Times Tehran was preparing to target U.S. diplomats and personnel, characterizing their comments as confirmation of a U.S. intelligence warning. The officials, one identified only as a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said such tactics were “fair game” given U.S. and Israeli targeting of Iranian officials, according to The Media Line.
In an Oct. 23 memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton wrote that intelligence from various channels showed Iran had “substantially increased” efforts to target U.S. personnel. Clayton said lethal plots against U.S. citizens had reached advanced stages in the Middle East and certain other countries. The memo, also copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, did not identify targets or specify the other countries.
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Reporting
- The Media Line — Iranian Officials Confirm Tehran Preparing To Target US Diplomats, Personnel - The Media Line
- News.Az — How is Washington protecting embassies and American personnel across the Middle East? | News.az
- News.Az — Iran steps up efforts to target Americans abroad, US intelligence warns | News.az
- Yeni Şafak — Trump weighs Iran strikes amid warship deployment: Report
- aktualita.co — US Intelligence Warns of Alleged Iranian Threat to Diplomatic Personnel, Embassies Reduce Staff
- hawaiitribune-herald.com — Iran has ramped up efforts to target US personnel, intelligence memo warns | Hawaii Tribune-Herald
- garoweonline.com — U.S. Intelligence Warns Iranian Plots Against Americans in Middle East Have Advanced
Verifier’s note
Multiple results report the October 23 intelligence memo warning that Iranian efforts to target U.S. personnel had increased and that lethal plotting had reached advanced stages. The reports are current and do not contradict the proposed event.