Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent a memo Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his dual role as secretary of state and national security adviser, warning that Iran has "substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel."

Clayton wrote that "the lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries."

The memo was obtained by The Associated Press and first reported by Axios; three U.S. officials speaking anonymously confirmed it was sent to Rubio.

The State Department is reducing staffing at U.S. embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates after receiving the intelligence. All four missions are already operating under "restricted operations" status that limits their footprints, and they will remain open.

Unlike Saudi Arabia, where nonessential U.S. personnel and their families were ordered Wednesday to leave the country, staff in the other four countries are not compelled to depart.

U.S. officials said the threats from Iran and Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are related to the staffing changes.

The Jerusalem Post reports Iranian officials have claimed U.S. diplomats and officials are "fair game" targets for assassination, and Iranian state television says the Revolutionary Guard navy again threatened to strike U.S. military bases in the region if the United States keeps guiding commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The threat also extends beyond the region, reportedly reaching American soil.

The warning comes amid an ongoing conflict that began with Israel and U.S. strikes in February 2026, dubbed Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, and a ceasefire announced on April 7.

The Jerusalem Post notes a resurgence of fighting between a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, with missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia, including attacks claimed Saturday on the airport and Saudi oil facilities.

Mediators are trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to formal talks as the war has reached a stalemate, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned in a Financial Times column that further escalation would risk civilian lives and the global economy.

U.S. officials adamantly deny the drawdowns are tied to any potential new U.S. or Israeli strikes on Iran. The war has spiked energy costs for Americans and created political problems for President Donald Trump and Republicans ahead of the Nov.

3 midterm elections. Speaking at a Florida rally Friday, Trump touted the military operations in Iran, saying "we may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree. If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.'"

The State Department's public drawdown announcement cited Houthi threats without mentioning Iran directly.

Iran is preparing for the possibility of an Israeli or U.S. strike, per The Jerusalem Post, which reports Tehran threatens strikes on energy and civilian targets and nuclear escalation if attacked.

Iranian state media claims Iran's army shot down a U.S. drone over Bandar Abbas, a claim reported by Reuters through the outlet. The Houthis have designated Riyadh's King Khalid airport a military target, and Saudi air defenses continue intercepting missiles and drones.