Iran Funneled $2 Billion Into Advanced Plots Against U.S. Personnel Abroad
An intelligence memo warns that Tehran has significantly expanded its budget for lethal operations targeting Americans in the Middle East and other regions.
By Tyler Khalil ·
U.S. intelligence officials report that Iran has allocated an additional two billion dollars to expand lethal plots targeting American personnel overseas. The funding increase supports operations that Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton describes as having reached advanced stages of development. This assessment appears in a memo dated Friday and obtained by CBS News. The document was addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with CIA Director John Ratcliffe copied on the correspondence.
Clayton wrote that Iranian efforts to kill U.S. citizens have intensified in the Middle East and several other nations. The memo does not identify specific targets or name the countries where these plots are currently active. It also does not indicate whether an attack is imminent. Clayton stated that the intelligence community is working to declassify sensitive information gathered through various channels so that more State Department staff can access the details.
The warning arrives as the Trump administration evaluates the possibility of resuming military strikes against Iran. Security precautions at American diplomatic and military sites in the region have increased this week. The State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia. Several other embassies in the region shifted to restricted operations status, a designation that allows them to reduce on-site staff without issuing a formal evacuation order.
A U.S. official told CBS News that the department constantly evaluates the security environment. The official cited threats from Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots as key factors in staffing decisions. Senior military officials noted that the armed forces have quietly reduced their presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats. Houthi militants, backed by Iran, have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. A strike on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport earlier this month killed several people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds.
U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates took defensive steps last weekend in response to Houthi activity. Although the United States and Iran have avoided direct military engagements in recent weeks, President Trump has not ruled out restarting hostilities after next month's midterm elections. Iran continues to claim responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, President Trump suggested another operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. He referred to the U.S. military campaign launched in February by stating, 'We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree.'
The intelligence memo underscores the growing financial commitment Tehran has made to its anti-U.S. campaign. The additional two billion dollars represents a substantial increase in resources dedicated to lethal plotting. This budgetary shift aligns with recent shifts in diplomatic and military posturing across the region. The administration continues to monitor the situation while maintaining a reduced but active presence in key locations.
