Pentagon raises Israel counterintelligence threat to 'critical' amid fears of spying on Trump's Iran peace talks
The Defense Intelligence Agency has elevated the counterintelligence threat level posed by Israel to 'critical,' the highest tier, as officials suspect intensified efforts to eavesdrop on Trump administration deliberations over a peace deal with Iran.
A new peak in an old rivalry
Israel and the United States have long known, and tolerated, that each spies on the other. But a recent Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment, described by current and former officials to NBC News and The New York Times, concludes that Israeli efforts have crossed a line. The seven-page document, to which the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency also contributed, raises the threat level from 'high' to 'critical' and cites a series of incidents that have amplified American concerns.
The targets of the surveillance
According to the reports, Israel is not seeking tactical military data, which is already shared extensively through the close coordination at U.S. Central Command. Instead, its agencies are attempting to uncover the White House's political calculations and negotiating red lines. Among those believed to have been in the crosshairs are Steve Witkoff, President Trump's chief negotiator; Elbridge A. Colby, the Pentagon's top policy official; and Michael P. DiMino IV, the deputy responsible for Middle East policy.
Israel is looking for insights into Mr. Trump's strategy and shifting stances on the peace talks.
The evidence behind the alert
The DIA report details a pattern of activity stretching back several years. In one incident, American defense personnel in Israel detected that software for intercepting communications had been secretly installed on their mobile phones. The document also references earlier attempts to place listening devices in facilities and vehicles used by U.S. personnel. Officials told NBC that the recent tempo of these operations goes well beyond the normal, predictable espionage practices expected even among allies.
- Counterintelligence incidents begin rising as Biden administration pressures Israel to limit Gaza operations.
- Trump and Netanyahu meet in the Knesset during a U.S.-brokered prisoner exchange and Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
- Israeli forces enter Lebanon in response to a Hezbollah attack, retaliating for U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
- Ceasefire between Washington and Tehran takes effect; Trump threatens to resume attacks if Iran does not meet U.S. terms.
- DIA raises Israel counterintelligence threat level to 'critical'; reports of spying on Trump's Iran negotiators surface.
A rift over how to end the war
The counterintelligence alarm surfaces at a moment of deep strategic divergence. Since April 8, a ceasefire has held between Washington and Tehran, though Trump has repeatedly threatened to resume strikes if Iran does not accept U.S. terms, including abandoning its nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, by contrast, wants to continue the military campaign to degrade Iran's capabilities and to assault Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been operating since early March. The tension boiled over in a recent phone call, after which Trump acknowledged to journalists that he had described Netanyahu as 'crazy.'
Israeli intelligence activities are directed at enemies, not allies. Any claim to the contrary is either misinformed or politically motivated.
Denials and operational impact
Both the Israeli embassy in Washington and the White House have dismissed the story as false. The Pentagon declined to comment. Despite the denials, NBC reports that the heightened alert could lead to increased caution during U.S. officials' travel to Israel and during meetings with Israeli counterparts. The development may also complicate the further integration of military war planning between U.S. Central Command and Israel, especially if the Pentagon decides to place new restrictions on information shared with Israeli officers.
A broader pattern of friction
U.S. intelligence reports indicate that the number of counterintelligence incidents began rising in late 2024, when the Biden administration was pressing Israel to limit its operations in Gaza, and persisted through 2025 as the Trump administration weighed options for striking Iran. Some officials now assess Israel as a greater counterintelligence challenge than most U.S. allies, with only South Korea reaching a comparable risk level in certain scenarios. The Corriere della Sera notes that the leak itself may be a signal, either from within the U.S. government or from elements of the establishment that oppose the current Israeli strategy and the cover Trump has provided to Netanyahu.
