State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki refused to address reports that Turkey has disclosed the identities Israeli intelligence assets to Iran Thursday in the State Department press conference.
The Washington Post's David Ignatius suggested that relations between Israel and Turkey are still strained because of the 2010 flotilla incident, despite September reports indicating Turkey and Israel were close to a "breakthrough" in reconciliation.
However, when asked whether the State Department was concerned that the Turks could be hindering efforts by the United States and Israel to gather intelligence on Iran, Psaki responded, "I’m not going to speak to this":
MATT LEE: Just going back to the Ignatius piece, and recognizing you don't want to comment on it, I presume, specifically, but are you concerned at all that intelligence information about Iran has been compromised at all in recent years by the disclosure of Israeli assets -- intelligence assets?
JEN PSAKI: I'm just not going to comment on the specific stories.
LEE: So do you not -- this is -- this is not an issue with the Turks? Do you still have -- let me put it this way: Do you have concerns about the Turks or the Turkish government when it comes to getting intelligence about Iran?
PSAKI: Do we have concerns about them? In what way?
LEE: Are you concerned that the Turks may be hindering either you or your greatest Middle East ally, the Israelis, in getting intelligence about Iran and what's going on inside of it?
PSAKI: I'm not going to speak to this. We work with the Turks. They're a close ally. We work with them on a range of issues.
LEE: Well, here's my question: Do you still consider the Turks to be a close ally --
PSAKI: Yes.
LEE: -- a NATO ally --
MS. PSAKI: Yes.
LEE: -- that would -- that is acting in the best interests of the alliance, particularly when it comes to Iran?
PSAKI: Our position has not changed on our relationship with Turkey.