21 Dead: Iran Plots Trigger US Embassy Staff Cuts in 7 Nations

American citizens working in diplomatic posts across the Middle East face a new level of security scrutiny. The State Department confirmed on Wednesday that it is withdrawing non-essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. This action follows a directive that places US personnel in the region on high alert due to rising threats from Iran.

The decision stems from an internal memo sent by Jay Clayton, the Director of National Intelligence, to Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State. Clayton informed Rubio that US intelligence agencies have gathered evidence showing Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target US personnel overseas. The memo states that lethal plots have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries.

The threat level is currently assessed as the highest since the US and Israel began their war on Iran on February 28. Officials told The New York Times that threats to American officials, including ambassadors, have been evaluated in recent weeks. Intelligence also suggests that Iran has identified potential targets in Europe and that some operatives are already active inside the United States.

The State Department cited escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen as a primary reason for the staff reduction in Saudi Arabia. CNN reported that similar quiet reductions have occurred at US embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official attributed these decisions to Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials.

The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the start of the conflict. On Wednesday, Hossein Mohebbi, the spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, announced that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US renewed attacks. He stated that Iran would no longer limit itself to retaliation and noted that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles have improved.

Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that undersea communications cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be targeted if war resumes. Reuters reported that Tehran has detailed plans to attack undersea cables in the Gulf should new US and Israeli strikes occur. Iran has not publicly responded to the US intelligence memo.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US may launch another military campaign, referring to it as a little epic fury. This comment came amid reports that Washington and Jerusalem are preparing for a new offensive following the US mid-term elections scheduled for next month.

US authorities have a history of accusing Iran of plotting against Americans. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate Trump and other politicians on orders from the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton, allegedly offering $300,000 to individuals in the US to carry out the task.

The US intelligence community stated last year that Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally, particularly those involved in the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. This month, US authorities abruptly pulled bombers from an airbase in England after a security incident led UK authorities to arrest several men suspected of working with Iranian intelligence.