U.S. embassy officials are on heightened alert across the Middle East after Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton issued a memo stating that Iran is in the "advanced stages" of planning attacks against Americans. The intelligence indicates Iran has "substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel" in the region, with threats also extending to "certain other countries."

These warnings follow the U.S. order for non-emergency government employees to leave Saudi Arabia this week amid escalating Houthi attacks and the nearing eight-month mark of the broader U.S.-Iran conflict. The Saudi-led coalition reported destroying two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis on Saturday.

The Trump administration has pledged to postpone military strikes on Iran until after the November 3 midterm elections, acknowledging the war's significant disruption to the U.S. economy, with inflation and affordability being key voter concerns. Rising Middle East tensions have sent oil prices soaring this week, with benchmark Brent crude futures topping $116 a barrel, a six-month high, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate rising 3.8% to settle over $103 a barrel.