Washington raises alert and reduces diplomatic staff in Middle East after warnings of Iranian threats

The New York Times reported that the U.S. government has raised the alert level among its personnel across the Middle East and taken steps to reduce the number of staff at its embassies and consulates in the region, based on new intelligence.

The report quoted U.S. officials saying that the level of threat posed by Iran to Americans in the Middle East has reached its highest level since the outbreak of the war in February. Officials said Tehran’s ability to carry out attacks inside the United States remains limited, while President Donald Trump receives regular briefings on threats that extend beyond the Middle East.

Officials added that Washington has information indicating the possible presence of Iran-linked actors inside the United States, and that potential Iranian plans to target Americans could include targets in Europe as well.

U.S. intelligence said Tehran has significantly intensified efforts to target American diplomats and officials inside and outside the region, prompting a reassessment of protective measures and security procedures at several missions.

According to media reports, assassination plots attributed to Tehran had reached “advanced stages” according to a memo dated Oct. 23 addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The reports said that Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton urged in the memo that the circle of officials with access to the intelligence on these plots be expanded to include a larger number of officials than are currently allowed to see it.

The reports noted that the memo did not specify particular targets or countries outside the Middle East or the nature of the plots, but said the intelligence on which it was based had been shared with senior State Department officials. Clayton also proposed declassifying as much of that information as possible so it could be shared more widely with those at risk.

U.S. officials revealed that this intelligence was among the reasons the State Department reduced its personnel at several embassies in the Middle East, amid growing concerns about the possibility of a wider regional conflict.

Officials were alarmed by the possibility that the scope of attacks by the Houthi armed faction in Yemen, which is backed by Iran, could expand to other countries in the region, the reports said. The report added that the security picture is further complicated by the possibility of renewed U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, a possibility that could be linked to the results of the U.S. midterm elections.