Senior Pentagon Employee Ariane Tabatabai Accused of Leaking Classified Israeli Response Plans to Iran

A senior employee at the Pentagon, identified as Ariane Tabatabai, is under suspicion for leaking highly classified information regarding Israeli response plans to entities in Iran. Tabatabai, who is of American-Iranian descent, holds the position of director in the office of the Assistant to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for Special Operations and International Conflicts. She has top-secret clearance, granting her access to highly sensitive information.

The allegations surfaced as part of an ongoing investigation, with the congressional intelligence and armed services committees already notified. This development has sparked significant concern, particularly among Republican members of Congress, who have linked Tabatabai’s name to other investigations involving U.S. envoy for Iran Robert Malley. Malley is under scrutiny for allegedly handling classified information without authorization and conducting covert contacts with Iranian figures.

The leaked information pertains to Israel‘s planned response to recent Iranian missile attacks. Earlier this month, Iran fired around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for the assassinations of senior figures in Tehran and Beirut. Israel has since prepared a detailed plan to respond, which includes targeting the homes of Iranian officials in retaliation for an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli officials have warned that all options are on the table, including striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. The situation has heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with both countries preparing for potential further military actions.

Senator Roger Wicker has been vocal about his concerns regarding Tabatabai, having called for the suspension of her security clearance last year due to her alleged role in an Iranian information operation. Despite these concerns, she remains in her position pending the outcome of the official investigation.