Clayton Memo Details $2 Billion Rise in Iranian Plots

Iran has increased its financial commitment to eliminating American personnel overseas by $2 billion, according to an unclassified memo reviewed by CBS News. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent the warning to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday. The document states that Iranian efforts to target U.S. citizens have intensified and moved past the planning phase.

Clayon wrote that lethal plotting has reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other unspecified nations. He noted that the intelligence community is currently working to lower the classification level of sensitive data. This process will allow State Department staff to access more detailed information regarding the threat. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the correspondence.

The memo does not identify specific targets or locations where attacks are being prepared. It also fails to indicate whether an imminent strike is expected. Clayton emphasized that the increase in spending reflects a substantial shift in Iranian strategy. The additional funds support operations that are closer to execution than those seen previously.

The report coincides with the Trump administration’s review of military options against Iran. Security measures at U.S. diplomatic and military sites in the region have tightened in recent days. The State Department ordered non-essential embassy staff and their families to depart Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Other posts in the region shifted to restricted operations status, a designation that permits reduced staffing levels.

A U.S. official stated that the department continually assesses the security environment based on new data. The official cited Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots as primary factors in staffing decisions. Military officials reported that the U.S. presence in the Middle East has quietly decreased due to persistent threats. Houthi militants, backed by Iran, have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and airports.

One Houthi strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport earlier this month killed a U.S. citizen and injured hundreds. U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates implemented additional security steps last weekend. President Trump suggested at a campaign rally in Florida that further military action is possible if Iran does not agree to terms. He referenced the February military campaign while describing potential next steps.

The United States and Iran have avoided direct strikes in recent weeks. However, Trump has not excluded resuming hostilities following the midterm elections next month. Iran continues to claim responsibility for attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The situation remains fluid as both sides monitor developments in the region.