A newly circulated US intelligence memo warns that Iran is in the “advanced stages” of alleged plans to assassinate American officials in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

The warning comes as oil prices climb again and speculation grows that Donald Trump could order renewed strikes against Tehran after the midterm elections.

The document, drafted by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicates that the intelligence should support ongoing efforts to reduce staffing levels at US diplomatic missions.

Clayton wrote that his teams “have received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target US personnel.”

“The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against US citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries,” Clayton said in the memo.

Three US officials, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitive nature of the intelligence, confirmed to the Associated Press that the memo was sent to Rubio in both his role as secretary of state and national security adviser.

The memo surfaced soon after the State Department announced plans to reduce staffing at US embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the three officials, the staffing changes are linked to threats posed by Iran as well as by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

All four embassies already operate under “restricted operations” protocols, which have reduced the number of personnel stationed there.

Despite the reductions, the diplomatic missions will continue operating.

The situation differs from Saudi Arabia, where nonessential US employees and their families were instructed Wednesday to leave. Personnel in the other four countries have not been ordered to depart.

When it announced the drawdowns this week, the State Department cited a growing threat from Yemen’s Houthi rebels but did not publicly refer to direct Iranian threats against US personnel.

The developments follow a renewed outbreak of hostilities between a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, who have launched missile and drone attacks at Saudi Arabia.

US officials have strongly rejected suggestions that the staffing reductions are connected to possible future US and Israeli military action against Iran.

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House and the State Department for comment.

Oil prices jumped Thursday after a report said Donald Trump and Israel had prepared plans for fresh attacks on Iran following the midterm elections.

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Brent crude gained 2.68 percent to reach $111.74 a barrel. With only 12 days remaining before the midterm elections, the president is facing pressure to bring fuel costs down.

Soaring gas prices have sent the cost of living spiraling, leaving Republicans staring down the real prospect of losing both the House and Senate in less than two weeks.

US and Israeli commanders have mapped out a ‘short but intensive’ operation targeting Iran’s nuclear sites, energy infrastructure and missile and drone arsenal, the New York Times reported. 

Trump has even floated dropping the 22,000-pound GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known as the ‘Mother of All Bombs,’ on Pickaxe Mountain, a nuclear site buried deep inside granite.

Officials say the president is smitten with the weapon partly because of its nickname.

Some US planners are convinced a three-day pounding could tip Iran’s battered economy over the edge and force Tehran to cave on its nuclear program after nearly eight months of war.

Trump vowed earlier this month not to strike before the vote, and the full US armada, including three aircraft carriers and thousands of Marines, won’t be in place until early November anyway.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew to Israel this week to hash out the new strikes with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

But there is no guarantee the attack goes ahead, with Trump repeatedly pulling the plug on fresh combat operations, including at the last minute earlier this month.

Since the war began, Iran has triggered severe global oil shortages by choking off the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries a fifth of the world’s oil, with speedboats, mines and explosive drones.

One Tehran analyst said Iran would hit back at any strike on Pickaxe by targeting major Saudi refineries, including Aramco’s, to send energy prices soaring and squeeze American voters

Trump, speaking at a rally Friday in Florida, touted the US military operations in Iran, which were dubbed ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ and said that ‘we may do another little Epic Fury, or they’ll agree.’

Mediators have been trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to formal talks as the war has reached a stalemate.

According to Iranian state television, the Revolutionary Guard navy this week again threatened to strike US military bases in the region if the United States keeps helping guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the global energy trade.

‘Any further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz or elsewhere in the region will put civilian lives and the well-being of all regional states and the global economy at great risk,’ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in an opinion column in the Financial Times this week.

Cindy Crawford visited her daughter Kaia Gerber’s Los Angeles home on Thursday as she continues to grieve the loss of her son, Presley.

The 60-year-old supermodel appeared somber while wearing wide-leg jeans, a tan jacket and brown boots.

Wearing brown sunglasses, Crawford carried several bags into the home of 25-year-old Kaia.

Her appearance came soon after Crawford, her husband Rande Gerber, 64, and Kaia publicly addressed Presley’s sudden death. He died on September 20 at the age of 27.

On Sunday, Crawford shared a joint statement on Instagram, writing that the family was “beyond heartbroken.”

“We feel so blessed to have had Presley in our lives for 27 years. He is a sweet, beautiful soul who loved and is loved, now and forever. We are so proud of how he showed up in the world, with kindness and vulnerability,” they wrote.

The message continued: “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from so many who know and love our family and even strangers who feel our pain. Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever, Mom, Dad and Kaia.”

Kaia also remembered her older brother by posting childhood home videos of the pair alongside an open letter.

“prez, i don’t have the words,” she began. “how naive of me to believe that language could transcend grief.

“i’ve read all of the books and i have none of the answers. my articulation is no match against this, the magnitude of losing you.

“i am, quite literally, down on my f***ing knees.”

Presley died of a suspected overdose after suffering cardiac arrest while staying at Resolutions Living, a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica.

According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, his remains were “cremated” several days after his death at Rose Family Funeral Home.

In recent years, Presley had spoken openly about his mental health challenges and struggles with drug addiction.

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In footage obtained by TMZ from the night before his death, Presley gave a solo tour of the sober-living home where he had recently arrived.

Recorded at around 10 p.m., he appeared to be under the influence, staring into the camera with visibly glazed eyes. During the video, he moved the camera around a bedroom and several other areas of the residence.

Presley reportedly ‘got high’ on Saturday afternoon and became concerned he was losing control, insiders claimed to TMZ. His sober coach had called the living facility and asked if he could bring Presley in – though he made it clear that Presley was high on drugs – and the facility’s admissions officer reportedly agreed, the outlet reported.

The sober coach had reportedly planned to take Presley to a rehab facility the following Monday but needed a temporary hold for the weekend and subsequently left him at Resolutions Living, according to insiders. Sources claimed that Presley continued using drugs inside the sober home.

A final confirmation of any substances that may have played a role in his death will be revealed upon the release of the Medical Examiner’s toxicology report. 

In November 2025, Presley revealed he had taken a step back from social media to ‘take care of my own mental health for a bit.’

One month later, he opened up about his personal life in a candid social media video and started sharing ‘Mental Health Mondays’ videos on his Instagram.

Presley’s death came just weeks after Kaia opened up about the toll her brother’s struggles had taken on their famous family.

‘When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,’ Kaia told Vogue.

‘My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything – and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, “I’m gonna be very human for everyone.” There’s only so much you can hide from the world,’ she said.

‘And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them,’ the actress noted.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, you can also visit 988lifeline.org. You can also call, text or chat with a counselor by texting 988.

Karoline Leavitt joked that her successor, Katie Zacharia, met the same fate as contestants on Donald Trump’s hit reality show The Apprentice during a Friday conversation with Bill Maher.

The former White House press secretary was asked by the HBO host whether she had any advice for Zacharia, whose time in the role lasted less than a week.

“I mean, the President did have a hit show called The Apprentice, where he’s known for moving on from people,” Leavitt said. “So hey, it’s in his nature to do that type of thing, I guess.”

Maher then joked that he hoped “I’m not next” after making his second visit to the White House to dine with Trump, adding, “I still have some things I wanna say.”

Leavitt expressed sympathy for Zacharia, who faced harsh reviews following her first—and only—White House press briefing.

“It’s a tough job, it’s a very tough job. People say it’s one of the hardest jobs in Washington,” Leavitt said. “I give anyone who steps up to that podium credit, because only 37 people in history have been the White House press secretary.”

Even so, Leavitt said she ultimately supported Trump’s decision to remove Zacharia from the position within a week.

“That pressure in that room is enormous, the press are vicious, and I give her credit for standing up there,” she said. “As the President said, it wasn’t a good fit. That’s okay. I wish her well; we’re onto the next.”

Leavitt, who spent the first 18 months of Trump’s second term battling with the media, said the White House press secretary position should be highly sought after.

“It’s a great job, it’s a fun job and there’s a lot of qualified people who want it,” she said.

Earlier in the week, Leavitt acknowledged in an interview with Fox News, her future employer, that “the job obviously was not for her, but we wish her and her family well.”

Maher, who is liberal-leaning, also pressed Leavitt on the extent of her loyalty to Trump. In response, she described the early encouragement she received from the President.

“My relationship with the President—obviously he was my boss, but to me he’s also a friend. He gave me the opportunity of a lifetime,” she said.

Leavitt said Trump had acknowledged to her directly that some people had advised him against appointing her as White House press secretary, a role that made her the youngest person to hold the position at the time.

“Honey, lots of people said you were too young, and I told them I was building buildings in Manhattan when I was your age and you can do it,” she recalled. “I am very grateful for the opportunity and indebted to him.”

The remarks came after Zacharia’s tenure ended only days after she first stepped behind the White House briefing-room podium, where she delivered a shaky performance.

Trump announced Zacharia’s appointment on October 9, after first contacting her about the role on October 7.

She officially began the job on October 12 and faced reporters for the first time the following day.

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Her debut briefing lasted just 14 minutes, with questions from only three reporters.

Trump subsequently praised her performance, telling reporters: ‘I thought she did excellent. She did very good.’

But the appointment quickly became a talking point, with questions raised about Zacharia’s limited preparation time and her experience handling the White House press corps.

Zacharia also faced questions over her legal credentials after it was brought to light that she had failed California’s bar exam in 2011.

She then moved to Beijing with her husband and worked at a Chinese law firm.

Despite never passing the bar exam, Zacharia frequently appeared on news channels as a legal analyst, offering commentary on legal and political issues while identifying herself as a lawyer.

Zacharia’s rocky debut was followed by an uncomfortable appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show on October 15, just hours before she was pushed out of the job the following day.

Hannity delivered a notably tough grilling, confronting her over her widely criticized briefing, pressing her on why she had repeatedly described herself as a lawyer despite failing the California bar exam.

He challenged her explanation for the short briefing, asking: ‘Why only three questions in 14 minutes?’ before warning her that the White House briefing room would ‘never be a friendly room to you.’

Zacharia defended herself by blaming the whirlwind hiring process and lack of preparation time, but the combative interview added to the scrutiny surrounding her brief tenure.

As Leavitt reflects upon her first briefing, the lack of preparation on Zacharia’s end gave her a major disadvantage.

Trump announced Leavitt’s appointment on November 15, 2024, while he was still president-elect.

She didn’t deliver her first White House press briefing until January 28, 2025, giving her more than two months between the announcement and her debut.

Leavitt, who was 27 when she took the job, became the youngest White House press secretary in history.

Her first briefing lasted around 46 minutes, during which she took questions on the administration’s agenda and media access.

Leavitt announced her departure from the role on August 12, attributing the decision to wanting to spend more time with her growing family.

Trump praised Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides and said he understood her decision to spend more time with her family.

She also agreed to remain an outside adviser to the president.

Now, however, Leavitt is preparing for a return to the national spotlight.

Fox News announced on October 5 that she would join the network as an on-air contributor, providing political analysis and commentary across its platforms beginning November 1.

A 15-year-old disabled boy starved to death just days after a social worker determined there was no immediate danger in his home, despite his disclosure that he was being spanked and denied food.

Karreon Adams-Franks died on November 27, 2020, after suffering abuse at the hands of his adoptive parents, Felicia Adams and Jesse Franks.

Adams, the sister of Karreon’s biological mother, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for his murder in December 2023. Franks received a 30-year sentence.

Last week, the State of Washington—including the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)—and the Evergreen School District reached a $49.3 million settlement with Karreon’s estate.

The settlement will be divided between the state and the school district.

Davis Law Group, which represented Karreon’s estate and his two surviving brothers, said years of warning signs indicated that all three boys were being abused at home.

According to the law firm, Adams and Franks beat the boys with extension cords and canes, withheld food as punishment, and confined them to their bedrooms for days at a time.

Karreon weighed only 61 pounds when he died, down from 115 pounds a little more than a year earlier. He was autistic, nonverbal, and legally blind.

DCYF had received reports of abuse as early as 2017, the law firm said. In 2020, a relative contacted the agency and reported that Karreon looked like a “walking skeleton.”

A DCYF employee visited the family home six days before Karreon’s death and noted that he appeared “very skinny,” according to the law firm.

“This child was very skinny but also very tall. Did not have any observable injuries on exposed skin,” the DCYF fatality review stated, according to The Seattle Times.

“The caseworker encouraged the mother to look up the laws regarding acceptable discipline and said spanking with an object was not advised. She then left the home and documented that there was no present danger.”

Following Karreon’s death, DCYF changed its policies. Employees responding to abuse allegations are now required to take photographs, The Seattle Times reported.

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Karreon’s estate also alleged that the school district failed to protect the boys. The district had previously informed Adams that the children had said they were not given food over the weekend. The boys were beaten after making that disclosure, according to the law firm.

A medical examiner determined in 2021 that Karreon died from starvation and neglect. His death was classified as a homicide.

Adams and Franks surrendered after officials issued arrest warrants, according to KOIN.

In 2023, both Adams and Franks were convicted of domestic violence homicide and criminal mistreatment.

‘No amount of money will ever make up for what happened to Karreon and what his brothers lived through,’ lawyer Chris Davis said in a statement. 

The boys were forced to watch their older brother slowly die. The people and agencies responsible for protecting them, at school and at the State, saw the warning signs for years and did not act.

‘We hope this settlement gives Karreon’s brothers the stability and support to build the future they deserve. We also hope it reminds every governmental agency and school district that each warning sign must be treated as if a child’s life depends on it, because it often does.’ 

In a statement, Evergreen Public Schools said: ‘The district recognizes the profound loss of Karreon’s life and the lasting impact on his family. This was a tragic situation and the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes are in prison for their actions. 

‘Evergreen Public Schools hopes that this settlement will allow Karreon’s brothers to continue healing without the burden of enduring a trial.’ 

It also maintained that ‘none of its staff failed to make a mandatory report’ to DCYF.

‘The district maintains that its staff are well-trained and understand their mandatory reporting responsibilities,’ it said in a statement. 

The district said it agreed to settle to avoid a ‘jury verdict exceeding the district’s available insurance coverage.’  

The Daily Mail has reached out to Evergreen Public Schools and DCYF for comment.