U.S. intelligence warns of advanced Iran plots against Americans

U.S. intelligence chief Jay Clayton warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an unclassified memo dated October 23 that Iran had substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel, with lethal plots at advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries. The warning comes as the State Department orders nonemergency personnel and family members to leave Saudi Arabia and adjusts staffing at other regional diplomatic posts. The memo did not identify specific targets, operational details or countries outside the Middle East where alleged plots were underway. It also did not establish that an attack was imminent. The assessment is attributed to U.S. intelligence; the memo’s broad language leaves the nature and location of the alleged plots unspecified. The State Department said Houthi attacks and Iranian plots targeting U.S. officials were among the factors informing staffing decisions at posts already operating under restricted status. Earlier in the week, the department ordered nonemergency personnel and family members to leave Saudi Arabia, including posts in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran. Officials cited Houthi attacks as a reason for the Saudi departure order. A...