Iranian officials tell NYT Americans are "fair game" as US warns of advanced Iranian plots
Two Iranian officials, one in the IRGC, told the New York Times that Tehran is preparing to target US diplomats and personnel, after a US intelligence memo warned of increased Iranian plotting. Both outlets relay the NYT report; the details come second-hand.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Two Iranian officials, one of them a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), told The New York Times, which reported it on Saturday, that Iran is preparing to target US diplomats and other officials. The Jerusalem PostRC “Iran is planning to target United States diplomats and other officials in new assassination plots, according to two Iranian officials, including a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The Media LineN “Two senior Iranian officials confirmed that Tehran is preparing to target US diplomats and personnel” Read at The Media Line ↗ Mixed · 2The officials said Americans were "fair game" because the US and Israel had attacked and killed many Iranian officials and some of their family members. The Jerusalem PostRC “Americans were "fair game" due to Israel and the US having attacked and killed many Iranian officials, as well as some family members.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The Media LineN “such tactics are “fair game” given US and Israeli targeting of Iranian officials” Read at The Media Line ↗ Right · 1They also confirmed US intelligence reports that Iran was working to increase its ability to carry out assassination plots against US officials and civilians. The Jerusalem PostRC “The Iranian officials also confirmed US intelligence reports that Iran was working to increase its ability to actually execute assassination plots against US officials and civilians.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Mixed · 2The comments followed an October 23 memorandum from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe. It warned that Iran had substantially increased its efforts to target Americans, with plots reaching advanced stages; Axios obtained the memo, and a US official confirmed its receipt to The Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem PostRC “Axios obtained an October 23 memorandum that Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent to Rubio, with a copy to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The Media LineN “warning that Iran has “substantially increased” its efforts to target Americans in the Middle East and beyond” Read at The Media Line ↗ Right · 1Clayton also warned that information on the plots was relevant to a wider group of people than those currently authorized to receive it. The Jerusalem PostRC “information concerning Iranian plots to target American government personnel was relevant to a wider group of individuals than those currently authorized to receive it.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1US officials expressed concern that Iran was in the "advanced stages" of planning. One US official said Iranian operatives who are "not just simply Iranian nationals" were present in the US, but that such operatives often exaggerate their ability to carry out attacks when communicating with Iran. The Jerusalem PostRC “US officials expressed concern Iran was in the “advanced stages” of planning these attacks”“often exaggerate their actual ability to conduct attacks when communicating with Iran” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1The Jerusalem Post adds that Iran is also preparing for a possible Israeli or US strike, which it described as the start of a new phase in an ongoing war between them. The Jerusalem PostRC “Iran is also preparing for the possibility of an Israeli or US strike against it, kickstarting a new phase in the ongoing war between them.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1The Media Line, citing CNN, reports that Washington is speeding up evacuation of some diplomatic staff and families across the Middle East. An official evacuation order covers non-essential staff and families in Saudi Arabia, and personnel are quietly being reduced at embassies in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Lebanon. The Media LineN “An official evacuation order covers non-essential staff and their families in Saudi Arabia, according to CNN.”“Washington is also quietly reducing personnel at its embassies in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.” Read at The Media Line ↗ Centre · 1A US official told Fox News Digital that Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials are informing embassy staffing decisions. The Media LineN “The threat of Houthi attacks and of Iranian terror plots targeting US officials are informing our decisions on staffing adjustments” Read at The Media Line ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents the Iranian officials' statements as confirmation of US intelligence warnings, and adds the regional diplomatic drawdown.
- Emphasis
- Embassy evacuations and staffing cuts, US official's statement on threat assessment.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the US official's caution that operatives in the US often exaggerate their capabilities, and the detail on the memo's wider-distribution warning.
- Charged language
- “Confirm”“terror plots”
- For example
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“Washington is accelerating the evacuation of some diplomatic personnel and their families from missions across the Middle East over concerns about a regional escalation.” — The Media Line
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the "fair game" quote and assassination plots, placing them within the ongoing Iran-Israel/US conflict and possible strikes.
- Emphasis
- Assassination plotting, advanced stages, Iranian operatives in the US, the Clayton memo.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention embassy evacuations and staff reductions reported by the centre outlet.
- Charged language
- “'Fair game'”“assassinations”
- For example
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“Iran is also preparing for the possibility of an Israeli or US strike against it, kickstarting a new phase in the ongoing war between them.” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Two Iranian officials, one an IRGC member, told the New York Times that Tehran is preparing to target US diplomats and personnel.
- They called Americans "fair game" given US and Israeli attacks on Iranian officials.
- A memo from DNI Jay Clayton to Marco Rubio warned of increased Iranian efforts to target Americans.
Iran place
Per two unnamed officials quoted by the NYT, Iran treats Americans as "fair game" in response to US and Israeli killings of Iranian officials; no official on-record statement is reported.
“Americans were "fair game" due to Israel and the US having attacked and killed many Iranian officials” — The Jerusalem Post
United States place
US intelligence says Iran has increased plotting against Americans; the US is reducing embassy staffing in the region, citing Houthi and Iranian threats.
“Iranian terror plots targeting US officials are informing our decisions on staffing adjustments” — The Media Line
“significantly increased its efforts to target American officials and citizens” — The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Iranian Officials Confirm Tehran Preparing To Target US Diplomats, Personnel
Neutral Relays the NYT report as confirmation of US warnings and adds CNN and Fox reporting on embassy drawdowns.
Right1 article
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'Fair game': Iranian officials say US diplomats, officials are targets for assassinations - report
Alarmist Reports the NYT story as assassination plots against US officials, with the "fair game" quote in the headline.
- 25 Oct 06:12 First The Jerusalem PostRC 'Fair game': Iranian officials say US diplomats, officials are targets for assassinations - report
- 25 Oct 08:39 +2h 27m The Media LineN Iranian Officials Confirm Tehran Preparing To Target US Diplomats, Personnel
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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