Clayton warns Rubio that Iran funneled two billion dollars into lethal plots
A memo to the State Department says Tehran has advanced lethal operations against U.S. personnel in the Middle East and beyond.
By Maya Sokolov ·
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent a warning to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday. The unclassified memo details a major escalation in Iranian efforts to kill Americans overseas. Clayton stated that Tehran has substantially increased its targeting of U.S. personnel.
The document reports that lethal plotting efforts have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries. Clayton did not specify which targets or nations are currently under active threat. The memo also left unclear whether any specific attack is imminent. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the message.
Clayton noted that the intelligence community is moving to declassify sensitive information. This process will allow State Department staff to access detailed intelligence from various channels. The goal is to improve coordination between intelligence agencies and diplomatic operations in the field.
The warning arrives while the Trump administration considers resuming military strikes against Iran. Security measures at U.S. diplomatic and military sites in the region have tightened. The State Department ordered non-essential embassy staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Several other embassies in the region have shifted to restricted operations status, allowing them to reduce on-site personnel.
A U.S. official told CBS News that the department constantly evaluates new security information. The threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots is shaping staffing decisions at these embassies. Military officials said the armed forces have quietly reduced their presence at Middle East posts due to continuing threats.
Houthi militants, who receive support from Iran, have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. A strike on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport earlier this month killed several people, including one U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds. U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates took defensive steps last weekend in response to these attacks.
President Trump has not ruled out restarting hostilities after the midterm elections next month. He suggested another military operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. At a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, Trump said, "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree," referring to the campaign launched in February.
Source: CBS News
