Iran is suspected of intensifying efforts to target American diplomats and officials across the Middle East, prompting U.S. intelligence warnings about potential deadly attacks and a decision to reduce staffing at several American embassies in the region. The developments have heightened fears that the ongoing confrontation could escalate into a broader regional conflict.
According to U.S. intelligence assessments cited by Axios, the warnings were included in an intelligence memorandum sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The reported threats have raised concerns about the safety of American personnel as Washington weighs its response to growing tensions with Tehran.
The U.S. State Department has moved to reduce staffing at diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan. CNN has also reported that Washington is working to withdraw some diplomats and their family members from these countries on an accelerated timeline.
The measures come as Iranian officials issue increasingly forceful warnings about potential retaliation against American and Israeli targets, including strategic infrastructure across the Persian Gulf.
Beyond the reported threats against U.S. personnel, Tehran has warned that a renewed joint attack by the United States and Israel could trigger strikes against energy and technology infrastructure in several Gulf countries.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has identified potential targets that could include oil facilities, undersea communications cables, data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
According to The Guardian, the threats could extend to as many as seven countries in the region, raising concerns that a new confrontation could spread well beyond Iran’s borders.
Iranian officials have argued that Tehran should not be expected to accept attacks on its own economic infrastructure while systems they believe support operations against the country remain protected.
“We cannot accept a deal in which Iran’s economic arteries are attacked while the economic architecture that enables these attacks is considered untouchable”, according to statements reported by Iranian media.
Iranian Adviser Warns of a Wider Conflict
Mehdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, has claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed in principle to launch another attack on Iran.
The allegation has not been independently confirmed.
“Zero red lines is our strategy”, Mohammadi declared, warning that a renewed conflict could last longer and cover a wider geographical area than Iran’s adversaries anticipate.
The possibility of assistance from China or Russia has also emerged as a factor in assessments of Iran’s ability to sustain a confrontation. The extent of any potential support, however, remains uncertain.
U.S. and Israel Reportedly Prepare for Possible New Strikes
Reports in American media indicate that U.S. military advisers have prepared detailed target lists for a possible joint operation against Iran alongside Israeli forces.
According to these reports, a new offensive could take place after the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 3. No final decision to resume attacks has been confirmed.
Trump has stepped back from plans to strike Iran several times over the past four months. However, the breakdown of diplomatic negotiations has intensified discussions within his administration about the possibility of a renewed military campaign.
Potential targets under consideration could include missile facilities, oil installations and nuclear sites, according to the reporting.
Meanwhile, the United States and Israel have continued joint military exercises, including maneuvers over Iraq. Axios has reported that dozens of Israeli aircraft flew near the Iranian border during the week.
Regional Diplomacy Intensifies
Against this backdrop, foreign ministers from several European countries, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt are expected to meet in Istanbul to discuss the crises involving Iran, Yemen and the Palestinian territories.
Diplomatic efforts will be particularly important if the confrontation expands to include attacks on infrastructure or disrupts critical shipping routes. Any prolonged conflict could place additional pressure on regional security arrangements and international energy markets.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz Push Oil Prices Higher
Concerns about a new military confrontation have also intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime corridors for oil transportation.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval forces have claimed that they struck four commercial vessels passing through the strait on Wednesday. According to Iranian accounts, the ships were involved in transferring oil from one vessel to another.
Iranian authorities have also claimed that three additional vessels were struck by mines in the area. These allegations have not been independently verified.
The reported incidents have heightened concerns about the security of commercial shipping through a waterway critical to global energy supplies. A prolonged disruption could affect oil deliveries and increase uncertainty for importers, traders and energy producers.
Brent crude prices have climbed to $113.40 per barrel, the highest level in recent months, according to The Guardian. The increase has been linked to concerns about global supplies and the possibility of renewed U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran.
