Two senior Iranian officials, including a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have told The New York Times that United States diplomats and other American personnel are among Iran’s potential targets if the ongoing conflict escalates, Haaretz reported on 25 October 2026. The disclosure came as US officials described the risk to Americans as the highest level since the war began in February.
What officials said and how Washington views the threat
Haaretz said its account was drawn from The New York Times reporting that quoted the two Iranian officials. The New York Times report, as summarised by Haaretz, identified one of the officials as a member of the IRGC; it said both spoke about potential targets in the event of a further escalation.
US government sources have warned of an elevated threat environment for American personnel. According to the reporting cited by Haaretz, US officials told reporters the level of danger to Americans is at its highest point since the conflict began in February 2026.
International implications and official attribution
- Attribution: the claim that American diplomats are potential targets is reported by The New York Times and relayed by Haaretz; the assessment of rising threat levels was made by unnamed US officials to the press.
- Scope: the statements refer to potential targets “if the war escalates”; they are framed as officials’ comments and not as confirmed orders or actions.
The reports did not include named orders, timings, or operational details. They describe a rhetorical and security posture that has heightened concern for US personnel overseas, according to the US official briefings quoted in the press accounts.
Reporting and attribution rules
This article draws on Haaretz’s 25 October 2026 report, which in turn cites The New York Times and unnamed US officials. Operational claims, target lists and danger assessments are attributed in this article to the outlets and officials that made them.
| Date | Source | Main claim |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October 2026 | Haaretz (citing The New York Times) | Two senior Iranian officials said US diplomats and other American personnel are among potential targets if the war escalates |
| 25 October 2026 | Unnamed US officials (reported in press) | Threat to Americans is at its highest level since the war began in February 2026 |
No new operational developments involving Indian forces or policy were reported in these accounts, and neither Haaretz nor The New York Times attributed actions or orders to Iran’s supreme leadership or to the US government beyond the quoted assessments.
Readers should note these are media reports quoting officials; claims about targets and specific threat levels are those of the individuals and institutions cited by Haaretz and The New York Times.
