Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has issued a stark public warning that Iran has intensified efforts to target American officials and citizens, underscoring the enduring threat from the Islamist regime even after the devastating U.S. strike known as Operation Epic Fury
According to RedState, Clayton sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio an unclassified, one-page memorandum on Friday stating that the United States has "received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel." CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied on the memo, which a U.S. official confirmed as authentic to Scripps News, signaling that this is not a routine bureaucratic alert but a serious escalation in Tehrans hostile intent.
Although Clayton did not outline a specific plot, he made clear that Irans remaining leadership is driven by a desire for vengeance after the heavy blow inflicted by Operation Epic Fury and its aftermath. 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, the veracity of which was confirmed to Scripps News by a U.S. official, continues.
The warning comes as U.S. diplomatic posts in the Middle East are already drawing down staff in response to repeated attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants, a campaign that has exposed the consequences of years of appeasement toward Tehran by global elites. This latest intelligence will almost certainly accelerate those reductions, as Washington moves to shield its personnel from a regime that has long used terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
The administration has reportedly confirmed that the DNIs caution, first reported by Axios, is genuine and consistent with the broader intelligence community assessment. One U.S. official noted that CNN has obtained a copy and that the substance also broadly consistent with IC read on things, per source, while observers have questioned why such a memo would be sent in this format if not solely with intention of public release.
While the intelligence community raises the alarm, President Trump is sending his own unmistakable message of deterrence from the campaign trail in Florida. At a rally for GOP gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds, he warned that Iran would be wise to step back from the brink, even floating the prospect of a calibrated but forceful response, perhaps a Little Epic Fury, if Tehran refuses to change course.
"We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree." President Trump teases another potential U.S. strike on Iran if Tehran doesn't reach a deal.
"If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.' But, you know, I doubt they'll do that because perhaps they're pic.twitter.com/FzIkoiAl0L
"If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.' But, you know, I doubt they'll do that because perhaps they're not smart." That blunt warning reflects a doctrine of peace through strength that stands in sharp contrast to the accommodationist posture favored by many on the left, who have long downplayed the Iranian threat and undermined sanctions that constrained the regimes terror apparatus.
Claytons memo is deliberately unclassified, a sign that he wants not only Cabinet-level officials but also rank-and-file personnel and ordinary Americans to understand the gravity of the danger. He emphasized that the safety of U.S. government personnel abroad is "a top priority" for the administration and cautioned that the intelligence is "relevant to more individuals than are currently cleared to receive this information."
The materials have already been provided to appropriately cleared senior staff on Rubios team, and Clayton has pledged to downgrade as much of the underlying intelligence as possible so the Secretary of State can share it more widely within the department. That approach reflects a recognition that transparency and preparedness, not secrecy and wishful thinking, are essential when a hostile regime is actively hunting American officials.
Conservative commentators have underscored that Tehran is now dealing with a President who has both the will and the mandate to respond decisively if Americans are harmed. Eric Daugherty of Floridas Voice captured that sentiment in a pointed X post: Tehran should be VERY careful! Just remember that 47 is in office through Jan. 2029. The midterms have NO BEARING on that. He can unleash, whenever.
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