Concerns have emerged within the Pentagon regarding Israel's alleged surveillance of US officials involved in negotiations with Iran, according to a report by the New York Times. The report indicates that intelligence assessments suggest Israel has intensified its efforts to eavesdrop on senior American officials, including Steve Witkoff, President Trump's chief negotiator, and Elbridge A. Colby, the Pentagon's top policy official, along with his deputy, Michael P. Dimino IV.
These concerns arise amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, as negotiations have faced significant challenges. The counterintelligence threat level from Israel has reportedly increased in recent weeks. While there have been instances of spying, both nations have historically tolerated some level of espionage against each other.
The US has been providing Israel with substantial information regarding the conflict with Iran, but Israel is seeking further insights into Trump's negotiation strategies. This situation could complicate collaboration between the US and Israel if the Pentagon decides to impose restrictions on the information shared between their intelligence agencies.
Additionally, tensions have reportedly surfaced between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning Israel's military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump acknowledged a recent phone call in which he described Netanyahu as “crazy,” suggesting that Israel's actions may be hindering peace negotiations with Iran. Despite these tensions, Trump affirmed the strength of his relationship with Netanyahu, stating, “We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him.” Some current and former US officials, speaking anonymously, noted that Israel has a history of intelligence gathering on the US, and vice versa.
