Russia accused of aiding Iran in Middle East war
Russia is reportedly providing military intelligence to Iran to support its operations against the United States and Israel in the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to a report by The Washington Post.
The report said Moscow has been sharing intelligence that could help Tehran target US warships and aircraft operating in the region. However, the full extent of Russia’s support remains unclear.
According to the publication, Iran’s ability to locate US forces has been weakened since American and Israeli strikes on Tehran began last week. In response, Iran may be relying on external intelligence support.
Iranian drone strike kills US troops
The report cited an incident in Kuwait where an Iranian drone attack struck a command centre in Port Shuaiba on Sunday. The strike killed six US troops and injured 18 others after reportedly bypassing regional air defence systems.
Military analysts said Iran’s strikes have become more precise, targeting key radar and command systems.
“Iran is making very precise hits on early warning radars or over-the-horizon radars,” said Dara Massicot, an expert on the Russian military at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Massicot noted that Iran has limited satellite capabilities and could benefit from Russia’s advanced space and intelligence infrastructure.
Experts note improved Iranian strikes
Analysts studying Russia-Iran cooperation say Tehran’s attacks have become more effective over time.
“They’re getting through air defences,” said Nicole Grajewski of the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. She added that Iran has improved its strike capabilities since its previous conflict with the US and Israel.
Meanwhile, the White House has maintained that Iranian forces are suffering significant losses.
“The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly was quoted as saying.
US defence chief downplays Russia and China role
Despite the report, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that Russia and China were not significant players in the current conflict.
“They’re not really a factor here, and our issue is not with them,” he said.
Moscow has long maintained diplomatic, trade and military ties with Tehran. Both Russia and China have criticised the US-Israel strikes on Iran, saying there is no evidence that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons.
Kremlin officials confirmed that Russia remains in dialogue with Iranian leadership but declined to comment on whether intelligence support was being provided.
Conflict boosts Russian energy exports
The conflict has also had economic implications for Moscow. Rising tensions in the Middle East have increased global demand for Russian oil and gas, helping boost exports that had been affected by sanctions related to the Russia–Ukraine war.
The United States, meanwhile, has previously shared intelligence with Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia.
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