Concern in Washington: Iran advancing plans to harm American civilians

The US Director of National Intelligence warns that Iran is advancing plans to harm American civilians. Washington has ordered non-essential embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia amid escalating Houthi attacks.

US Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned that Iran has significantly increased its efforts to harm American civilians and military personnel in the Middle East and around the world. In an unclassified memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, Clayton wrote that Iranian efforts to plan deadly attacks against American civilians have reached advanced stages. Amid the threat and escalating Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, Washington has ordered non-essential embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia, according to a BBC report. According to Saudi authorities, at least 21 people have been killed in attacks on airports in the country since the beginning of October, including 13 in a missile attack on Riyadh airport on October 10. The developments occur against the backdrop of the broader regional conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, which has intensified in recent months and included mutual attacks and disruption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.