Iran Added $2 Billion to Budget for Killing Americans Abroad, Spy Chief Says

U.S. citizens living and working abroad face a more active threat from Iranian intelligence, according to a memo sent to the Secretary of State this week. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton reported that Tehran increased its spending on lethal operations by $2 billion. The additional funding has pushed several assassination plots into advanced stages of planning.

The intelligence assessment does not identify specific targets or name the countries involved in these operations. Clayton noted that the plots are developing in the Middle East and other unspecified locations. He stated that the intelligence community is working to declassify sensitive information so it can be shared more broadly with State Department staff.

The warning arrives as the administration evaluates whether to resume military strikes against Iran. U.S. diplomatic posts in the region have already adjusted their staffing levels in response to the heightened threat. The State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Several other U.S. embassies in the region have moved to restricted operations status, allowing them to reduce staff without formally ordering departures.

A U.S. official confirmed on Friday that the department continuously evaluates the security environment. The official cited Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots as key factors in staffing decisions. A senior U.S. military official stated that the military has quietly shrunk its presence at posts in the Middle East due to continuing threats. Houthi militants, backed by Iran, have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and airports with recent strikes.

One 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 took protective steps last weekend. 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 has also continued 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 military operation could follow if Tehran does not reach an agreement. He referenced the U.S. military campaign launched in February, stating that the administration may conduct another operation if negotiations fail. The memo was copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who oversees the agency's collection efforts.