US warns of Iranian plots to target American diplomats as Tehran confirms plans
October 25, 2026 at 08:27 AM
Washington is on alert for advanced Iranian plans to target American diplomats and citizens after an intelligence warning and a diplomatic staff drawdown.
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Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a memo that Iran had "significantly intensified" efforts to target Americans in the Middle East and beyond.
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Two senior Iranian officials, one a Revolutionary Guards member, told the New York Times Tehran intends to target American diplomats, calling them a "legitimate target."
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The State Department ordered non-essential staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia and reduced diplomatic staffs at embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the UAE.
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A US official told the New York Times there is evidence of Iranian elements inside the United States, not limited to Iranian citizens.