Washington ( CNN ) -- The United States has obtained intelligence indicating that Iran `` may be planning '' a retaliatory strike against the American Embassy in Baghdad if the United States launches a military strike against Syria , a senior U.S. official told CNN . He said that Iran has `` a lot of Shi ' a friends '' in Iraq that would be willing to carry out an attack . The official was responding to a Wall Street Journal report that the United States intercepted an order from Iran to militants in Iraq to attack the embassy `` and other American interests in Baghdad , '' if the United States struck Syria militarily for alleged chemical weapons use . The State Department had no comment on the report , but added it had not taken any action in terms of security at U.S. diplomatic posts in Iraq .
Iran official said intelligence pointed to planning for possible retaliation , if strike ordered . The State Department said Baghdad intercepted an order from Iran to militants . Wall Street Journal had no comment , but said it had not taken security steps in Iran .