Tucker Carlson claims CIA after him for 'speaking to Iranian officials'

Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson has been increasingly critical of Israel, claiming that the CIA is pursuing him for his journalism work.

16.03.2026

The New Arab Staff

Source:https://www.newarab.com/news/tucker-carlson-says-cia-after-him-iranian-officials-dialogue

Tucker Carlson has claimed that the CIA is investigating him for past contact with Iranian officials, with a case allegedly being filed against him under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The right-wing political commentator claimed the spy agency had monitored his conversations with Tehran officials, for journalistic purposes, conducted prior to the US-Israeli war on Iran, and that the Department of Justice was compiling a file against him.

Carlson has sharply turned away from his previous critical views on Islam and has begun outreach with Muslim and Christian communities in Arab states.

His recent support for Palestinians has seen him strongly criticised by Israeli officials and MAGA-linked US personalities.

"What's that crime? Well, talking to people in Iran before the war. They read my texts," he said in a video posted on social media.

"The CIA is preparing some kind of criminal referral against me, a crime report to the Department of Justice, on the basis of a supposed crime I committed."

Carlson did not comment on how he obtained this information, while there has been no official announcement from the Department of Justice about any possible charges against him.

He claimed that the US government is looking to punish him due to his political views, which includes strong criticisms of Israel, particularly due to their treatment of Palestinian Christians.

Carlson believes that US intelligence agencies have been reading his messages to find incriminating evidence, but insists he has nothing to hide.

"I'm also an American. I can talk to anybody. I have no secrets to divulge. So, legally, I think the case is ludicrous, and I doubt it will even become a case," he added.

"Another point to make that is worth knowing is that the USIC, the intelligence agencies, spy on Americans. Now you probably knew that, and it’s been revealed a lot, including by Julian Assange and Ed Snowden, both of whom are threatened with death for revealing it."

Carlson also denied that he was acting for any foreign agent, and has accused other American political figures of putting Israel before the US.

"I'm not an agent of a foreign power. Unlike a lot of people commenting on US politics and global affairs, I have only one loyalty, and that's the United States, and have never acted against it," he said.

Carlson recently toured the Middle East, including visits to holy sites in Jordan and Palestine, and met with Christian leaders and Palestinian activists.

This included a public spat with the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and reportedly being detained at Ben Gurion Airport due to his pro-Palestine views.