Iran Spends $2 Billion More to Kill Americans Abroad, Intel Memo Shows

Jay Clayton, the Director of National Intelligence, told Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iran has increased its spending on operations to kill Americans by $2 billion. In an unclassified memo dated Friday, Clayton stated that these efforts have reached "advanced stages" in the Middle East and other regions. The document was copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who is now part of the administration's security strategy team.

The intelligence chief noted that Tehran is targeting U.S. citizens with lethal plotting. "The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries," Clayton wrote. While the memo does not identify specific targets or locations, it confirms that the intelligence community is downgrading classification levels to share sensitive data with State Department staff more easily.

This warning arrives as the administration debates whether to resume military strikes against Iran. Security precautions have tightened at American diplomatic and military sites in the region. Earlier this week, the State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia. Several other U.S. embassies in the area have switched to "restricted operations" status, which allows them to reduce staffing without a formal departure order.

A U.S. official told CBS News on Friday that the department "constantly" evaluates the security environment. The official cited the threat of Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots as key factors in staffing decisions. Additionally, a senior U.S. military official confirmed that the military has been quietly shrinking its presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats.

Houthi militants, who receive backing from Iran, have struck Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. One strike on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport earlier this month killed several people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds. Last weekend, U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates took steps in response to these attacks.

Although the United States and Iran have avoided direct strikes 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, Trump suggested another operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree," he said, referring to the U.S. military campaign launched in February.