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U.S. trims Middle East embassy staff after Iran threat warning

The U.S. State Department has reduced staffing at four Middle East embassies following a warning from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel, according to a Friday memo.

Coverage from 2 publishers 2 source reports
PoliticoPBS
US
Update summary

What changed in this update

The State Department has reduced staffing at several Middle East embassies in recent days.

Event intelligence

Iranian Plots Against Americans in the Middle East

2 connected story threads

Current state

U.S. intelligence assesses that Iran is in advanced stages of planning attacks against Americans in the Middle East, prompting the State Department to reduce staffing at several regional embassies and order the departure of diplomats and federal employees from Saudi Arabia after Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio of substantially increased Iranian targeting efforts.

Grounded in 4 reports across 4 sources

What changed

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iran has substantially increased its efforts to target U.S. personnel in the Middle East.

In this event Is Iran planning attacks on Americans; why is the US on alert? Earlier coverage
Source coverage

Source reports

US
Politico

DNI chief warns of heightened Iranian threats in letter to Rubio

The State Department has reduced staffing at several Middle East embassies in recent days.

Lead source Read at Politico
US
PBS

U.S. is reducing staffing at 4 Middle East embassies over increased threats from Iran

In a memo sent Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton said his teams "have received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel."

Supporting source Read at PBS
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