The head of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, Tamir Pardo, has recently paid a clandestine visit to the United States during which he reportedly held talks with high-ranking US officials in secret

The head of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, Tamir Pardo, has recently paid a clandestine visit to the United States during which he reportedly held talks with high-ranking US officials in secret.

His visit to Washington was exposed during a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Haaretz reported.

The session, held last Tuesday, was attended by CIA Director David Petraeus, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Dianne Feinstein who chairs the Senate panel.

According to the report, Feinstein asked Clapper during the meeting whether or not Israel intended to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. The top US intelligence official answered he would rather discuss the issue behind closed doors.

Feinstein then indicated she had met the Mossad chief earlier in the week in Washington, with Petraeus saying he too has met Pardo and cited what he called Israel's growing concern over Iran's nuclear program.

The CIA chief added that it was important to note that Israel considered a nuclear Iran as an existential threat.

No further detail was revealed about Pardo's secret meeting during the session which was broadcast live on American television.

News of the Mossad chief's reported visit to Washington came as Israel's President Shimon Peres said on the same day that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons capability.