WASHINGTON — Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on the location of U.S. forces in the Middle East, emboldening the Tehran regime as it launches missile and drone attacks on American bases and other targets in the region, four sources with knowledge of the matter said.
Sources said Russian intelligence assistance helps Iran track US warships, radar or other communications systems, but there is no indication that Moscow will assist with direct Iranian missile or drone attacks.
Iran began firing missiles and drones at US bases and other American targets after the United States and Israel launched an air war against the regime last Saturday.
Russia’s decision to provide data from its satellites and other intelligence to Iran underscores the geopolitical fallout from the war and potential risks to American ships, aircraft and bases in the region.
The Washington Post first reported on Russian aid.
Asked about Russia’s intelligence assistance to Iran, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the Iranian regime was being suppressed.
“Their ballistic missile retaliation is decreasing every day, their navy is being destroyed, their manufacturing capacity is being dismantled and proxies are barely putting up a fight,” he said, adding that the US operation in the Middle East is meeting or exceeding its goals.
Publicly available images of Iranian strikes in recent days have shown US military radar, satellite dishes and communications infrastructure at American bases in the Persian Gulf under attack.
In an interview with NBC News’ Tom Lamas on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his government was receiving political and other assistance from Russia and China but declined to elaborate.
“They are supporting us politically and otherwise,” Araghchi said.
The longstanding military cooperation between Iran and Russia is “no secret,” he said.
Asked whether Iran was receiving military aid from Russia or China, he said: “Well, I’m not going to give details of our cooperation with other countries right in the middle of a war.”
President Donald Trump has often said he has an excellent relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has said Moscow would not have launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine had he been in the White House at the time.
At a Pentagon press conference earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked about calls from Russia and China for an immediate ceasefire and whether the US had a message for Moscow or Beijing.
“I don’t have a message for them. They’re not really a factor here,” he said.
