US reducing staffing at four Middle East embassies over Iran threats

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 24 Oct, 03:02 · Archive

The US State Department is reducing staffing at four Middle East embassies after intelligence indicated Iran has stepped up efforts to target American personnel.

The US State Department is reducing staffing at four Middle East embassies following intelligence that Iran has stepped up efforts to target American personnel in the region and elsewhere.

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent a memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying his teams 'have received intelligence 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 affected embassies are in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, all of which are already under 'restricted operations' status that has previously reduced their personnel numbers.

The embassies will remain open. Unlike at the US embassy in Saudi Arabia, where nonessential personnel and their families were ordered to leave, staff at the four Middle East embassies are not compelled to depart. When announcing the staffing reductions, the State Department highlighted increased threats from Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels but did not directly mention threats from Iran itself.

US officials have denied the staffing changes are connected to any potential new US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

How it is being reported

• US is reducing staffing at 4 Middle East embassies over increased threats from IranThe State Department says it will reduce staffing at four U.S. embassies in the Middle East after receiving intelligence that Iran has stepped up efforts to target American personnel in the region and elsewhere.News4Jax · 24 Oct, 02:42
• US is reducing staffing at 4 Middle East embassies over increased threats from IranThe State Department says it will reduce staffing at four U.S. embassies in the Middle East after receiving intelligence that Iran has stepped up efforts to target American personnel in the region and elsewhere.Clickorlando · 24 Oct, 02:42

In this story: United States · Iran · Jay Clayton · Marco Rubio · Jordan · Lebanon · Qatar · United Arab Emirates

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