Axios obtained a one-page, unclassified memo dated Oct. 23 in which U.S. intelligence warns of a marked increase in Iranian operations targeting U.S. diplomats and officials in the Middle East and beyond, saying some lethal plots have reached an "advanced stage." The memo, from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Rubio, says the underlying intelligence has been shared with senior State Department officials and urges lowering the classification level so Rubio can n

Axios obtained a one-page, unclassified memo dated Oct. 23 in which U.S. intelligence warns of a marked increase in Iranian operations targeting U.S. diplomats and officials in the Middle East and beyond, saying some lethal plots have reached an "advanced stage." The memo, from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Rubio, says the underlying intelligence has been shared with senior State Department officials and urges lowering the classification level so Rubio can notify additional U.S. personnel currently not cleared to receive the information. U.S. officials say the intelligence was one factor behind recent staff reductions at multiple U.S. embassies in the region. The memo does not identify specific targets, non-Middle Eastern countries involved, or operational details.