US Cuts Staff at Four Middle East Embassies Amid Iranian Threat The State Department is reducing staffing at US embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the UAE following a warning from the Director of National Intelligence that Iran has significantly increased its attempts to target American personnel in the region and abroad. Based on the provided intelligence, the State Department is reducing staffing at four US embassies across the Middle East - in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates - as a precautionary measure against heightened Iranian aggression. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has informed Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the Iranian government has intensified its efforts to target American personnel, with some plots reaching advanced stages in multiple countries. While the embassies will remain operational and no mandatory evacuations are currently ordered, the security posture has been adjusted to mitigate potential risks.