Tension between Washington and Jerusalem is growing as yet another crucial stage in the talks between the international community and Iran begins.

American and Israeli media outlets reported this week that the Obama administration has been limiting the information it has been sharing with Israel on the status of the talks and the details of an impending agreement.

According to sources in the administration, the Americans believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaked details of the reduced levels of co-operation in an attempt to sabotage the talks.

Both governments have denied the reports, citing the frequent meetings between senior Israeli and US representatives in which the talks were discussed. Officials on both sides also said that several meetings between the head of Israel's National Security Council Yossi Cohen and his US counterpart had taken place over the past two weeks, and that there had been frequent phone conversations between Mr Netanyahu and Secretary of State John Kerry.

However, in a public meeting on Monday, Mr Netanyahu said: "Just as Iran knows what kind of deal is being offered, it's only natural that Israel should know the details of the deal being formulated… if there are those who think this is a good agreement, why must it be hidden?"

Mr Netanyahu is planning to make a controversial speech to a joint session of the US Congress in two weeks' time, where he will warn against an agreement that will allow Iran to become a "nuclear threshold state".