Baghdad:Washington U.S. officials have announced an increase in the alert level for American personnel stationed throughout the Middle East.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the alert escalation follows assessments that the threat posed by Iran to Americans in the region has reached its highest level since the onset of the current conflict. This determination was highlighted in an “unclassified” memo addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where it was detailed that Iran has “significantly intensified” efforts to target American officials and diplomats.

The memo, reported by the news website Axios, indicates that Iranian assassination plots have reached “advanced stages.” U.S. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, in the document, emphasized the need for broader dissemination of intelligence regarding these plots to U.S. personnel who lack the current security clearance to access such information.

While the memo does not provide specifics on the targets, countries, or the nature of the plots, it confirms that the core intelligence has been shared with senior officials at the U.S. Department of State. The heightened intelligence threat is cited as a factor in the State Department’s decision to reduce staffing levels at certain embassies across the Middle East, amid increasing fears of a broader regional conflict.