U.S. Intelligence Raises Alarm Over Israeli Spying on American Iran Negotiators
U.S. intelligence agencies have warned that Israeli spying and eavesdropping on American negotiators in Iran talks has intensified, prompting a critical counterintelligence alert and potential limits on military information sharing.
The latest intelligence assessments say Israeli spying on U.S. negotiators and officials has increased at a time of unusually close military coordination between Washington and Jerusalem. American analysts report that efforts to gather information on U.S. positions in peace negotiations with Iran have crossed previously accepted boundaries, elevating concern inside U.S. defense and counterintelligence circles.
Intelligence community elevates threat level
The Defense Intelligence Agency and other military intelligence offices have moved Israel’s counterintelligence risk assessment from high to critical in recent weeks. The elevation reflects a review of incidents over several years as well as new reports alleging targeted eavesdropping on senior U.S. personnel.
Officials linked the reassessment to episodes that included the covert installation of software on phones used by American defense staff and past discoveries of listening devices aimed at U.S. facilities. Those developments prompted internal warnings that Israeli intelligence collection is now of exceptional concern to U.S. counterintelligence authorities.
Named targets and methods under scrutiny
Recent reporting by U.S. agencies identified several high-profile figures as potential targets, including Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s lead negotiator on Iran, and senior Pentagon policy officials such as Elbridge A. Colby and Michael P. DiMino IV. Analysts say the focus was on learning negotiating positions, strategy shifts, and tactical options discussed by the U.S. team.
Beyond phone tampering, the assessments catalogued efforts ranging from physical bugging to attempted placements of listening devices. U.S. defense personnel in Israel reportedly detected instances where malware or surveillance software was installed on personal and government phones, creating acute operational risks for sensitive diplomacy.
Operational implications for military cooperation
The intelligence warning arrives while U.S. Central Command and the Israeli military are cooperating more closely than at any time in recent memory. American and Israeli officers now work side‑by‑side in several theaters, sharing tactical and operational information to confront threats related to Iran and its proxies.
Officials warn the new counterintelligence judgment could complicate or slow deeper integration of planning and intelligence-sharing between the two militaries. Pentagon leaders may consider additional safeguards or limits on what is shared with Israeli counterparts if the perceived threat to classified information and operational security cannot be mitigated.
Official responses and denials
The U.S. Defense Department declined to comment publicly about the internal assessments, and a White House official—speaking anonymously—called the specific account inaccurate. Representatives of the Israeli embassy in Washington pushed back strongly, saying Israel does not spy on American officials or institutions.
Multiple current and former U.S. officials speaking on background described a mixture of frustration and resignation: allies collect intelligence on one another as a matter of course, but the recent intensity and apparent focus on U.S. negotiators were described as crossing a line by some. The competing public responses underscore the diplomatic sensitivity of the findings.
Historical incidents and patterns cited
The recent alert did not arise in isolation. U.S. agencies pointed to episodes over the past several years that showed targeted collection against U.S. personnel and facilities. In 2021, military intelligence officers were reported to have been caught planting listening devices at U.S. facilities, and more recent events included alleged attempts by Israeli security personnel to place surveillance equipment on vehicles used by U.S. protective services.
The intelligence document also traces an uptick in incidents beginning in late 2024, when tensions mounted over Israel’s operations in Gaza, and continuing into 2025 as U.S. deliberations about Iran escalated. Analysts said the pattern suggested both tactical opportunism and sustained attention to U.S. policy-making on Iran.
Vulnerabilities inside the U.S. negotiating team
U.S. officials and former policymakers note that some practices made negotiators unusually vulnerable to collection, including heavy use of personal cellphones, private air travel, and operating outside established embassy staffing structures. Those habits can bypass standard security protocols and create openings for both allied and adversary intelligence services to exploit.
The assessments urged stricter application of counter-surveillance procedures and reinforced operational security for personnel involved in the Iran talks. Military sources said U.S. staff already follow a range of protective measures while working in Israel, but the new classification of the threat may prompt additional steps.
The new counterintelligence warning highlights the friction inherent in close security relationships: while the United States and Israel remain strategic partners with aligned interests in many areas, the intelligence community’s assessment makes clear that even allies may pursue information that the other considers off-limits. As Washington weighs diplomatic and operational responses, officials face the immediate task of safeguarding sensitive negotiations without undermining essential military cooperation.
