WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) — U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iranian preparations to attack American personnel in the Middle East have reached advanced stages, prompting reductions in staffing at embassies and bases across the region, according to officials and reporting by The Wall Street Journal.​

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton summarized the findings in a Friday memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The assessment states that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel, with lethal plotting at advanced stages in the Middle East and certain other countries, officials told the Journal.​

U.S. personnel have departed embassies and military facilities, including an ordered departure from the embassy in Saudi Arabia and other countries. A U.S. official said suspected Iranian plots contributed to those decisions. Earlier accounts varied: NBC News reported Oct. 21 that the United States had quietly reduced troops at bases in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait and cut staffing at multiple diplomatic posts. Journalist Timour Azhari cited U.S. officials saying the State Department was preparing ordered departures at embassies across the Gulf. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott called that inaccurate, stating the ordered departure applied only to Saudi Arabia and pointing to Houthi attacks.​

Officials told the Journal that President Donald J. Trump is leaning toward resuming major combat operations against Iran, though no decision has been made. The intelligence warning arrives amid ongoing regional tensions involving Iran-aligned groups and prior U.S. force posture adjustments in the Middle East.​