U.S. embassy officials across the Middle East were on heightened alert Friday, October 23, following reports that Iran was planning attacks on Americans. A memo attributed to Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton said U.S. agencies had received intelligence indicating that Iran had increased efforts to target American personnel in the region, according to a New York Times report. The warning also cited possible threats in other countries.
The alert followed a U.S. order for non-emergency government employees to leave Saudi Arabia as attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis intensified. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said it intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu. The developments come nearly eight months into the conflict between the United States and Iran, amid concern about the safety of U.S. personnel and regional infrastructure.
Diplomatic signals remained mixed. On Saturday, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, told The Associated Press that Tehran was open to renewed talks under a Pakistan-brokered agreement reached in June. He said Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the United States lifted its naval blockade, and claimed Washington had rejected the proposal. Iranian state media later denied the report.
The Trump administration has said it would defer further military strikes against Iran until after the November 3 midterm elections. The war’s economic effects have become an issue in the campaign, with inflation and affordability among voters’ leading concerns as they decide which party will control Congress.
Oil prices rose sharply during the week as tensions increased. Brent crude futures exceeded $116 a barrel, reaching a six-month high, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 3.8% to settle above $103. The moves underscored the economic stakes of the conflict, even as the prospects for renewed diplomacy remained uncertain amid conflicting official statements and continued regional security risks.