Report reveals: Israel spies on Trump team in Iran talks

SadaNews: Intelligence reports and testimonies from American officials have revealed concerns about Israeli espionage on prominent officials in President Donald Trump's administration, including key negotiators in the ongoing discussions with Iran.

According to information relayed by the New York Times, there is increasing concern within Washington regarding Israel's spying on American officials involved in the current negotiations to reach an agreement with Iran, including U.S. Special Envoy Steve Wiebe.

American officials told the newspaper: "Israel's espionage efforts to ascertain our positions in the talks with Iran have crossed acceptable boundaries."

The newspaper reported that U.S. intelligence reports indicated that Israel had intensified efforts to eavesdrop on senior American officials, including the top policy official at the Pentagon, Elbridge Colby, and his prominent assistant, Michael De Mino.

Prominent American officials indicated to the newspaper that Israel seeks to obtain information regarding President Trump's strategy and his shifting positions on negotiations for peace with Iran.

They added that the intelligence reports on Israeli espionage could complicate efforts to expand military integration between the two sides.

They continued to tell the newspaper that the increased Israeli spying could prompt the Pentagon to impose new restrictions on the information shared with Israeli officers.

The newspaper reported that U.S. intelligence documents revealed tensions between the United States and Israel due to Trump's efforts to reach an agreement with Iran.

The reports also indicated concerns about Israel eavesdropping on Wiebe and other senior negotiators while they sought to reach an agreement with Iran.

The New York Times noted that a report from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency indicated that Pentagon personnel in Israel discovered software secretly planted on their phones to intercept their communications.

American officials told the newspaper: "Our level of concern about Israeli intelligence activities is now higher than any other ally, even higher than some hostile nations."

The newspaper quoted a senior U.S. official as saying: "Israel's method of gathering intelligence is rampant and unprecedentedly unregulated."

American officials stated that some Trump administration officials' inclination to travel on their private planes and manage national security affairs through their personal phones made them easy targets for eavesdropping, as they put it.

Israeli Denial

The newspaper indicated that it reached out to the Pentagon, which refrained from commenting on the report, while quoting a White House official, who requested anonymity, stating that the allegations are false.

A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington also denied the claims to the newspaper, asserting that Israel does not spy on American officials or entities.