Trump's U.N. ambassador says Iran war could drag on for another year
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. says the war with Iran could last another year, but he hopes Tehran will "come to the table" sooner.
Key points
- DNI Jay Clayton warned Iran has increased efforts to target U.S. personnel abroad.
- A memo says plots to kill Americans reached advanced stages in the Middle East and elsewhere.
- The warning comes as the U.S. weighs resuming military strikes against Iran.
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned Friday that Iran has "substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel" abroad, according to an unclassified memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by CBS News. The memo says plots to kill Americans have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries.
The warning comes as the State Department adjusts staffing at diplomatic posts across the Middle East and the U.S. military reduces its footprint in the region, amid concerns about direct threats from Iran and from the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. The memo was issued as the Trump administration weighs resuming military strikes against Iran.
Details of the warning
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 memo does not identify specific targets or countries where the alleged plots are underway, or indicate whether attacks may be imminent.
Clayton said the U.S. intelligence community is working to downgrade sensitive intelligence received through various channels so it can be shared more broadly with State Department personnel. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the memo.
The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries.
— Jay Clayton
