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Russia is said to be sharing intelligence information with Iran regarding U.S. military targets in the Middle East, including the location of warships and aircraft, according to three officials familiar with intelligence reports cited by The Washington Post.
If confirmed, it would be the first indication that another major adversary of Washington is participating—albeit indirectly—in the conflict between the United States and Iran, amid a military escalation that began last Saturday.
According to the American newspaper, Moscow has reportedly provided Tehran with information about the location of U.S. military assets in the region, including warships and aircraft deployed at bases or engaged in operations in the Middle East.
Officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, indicated that Russian assistance may be broader than initially thought.
"It seems to be quite a broad effort," affirmed one of the sources cited by the American newspaper.
A conflict with the potential to escalate
The revelation suggests that the war could take on a greater geopolitical dimension by indirectly involving one of the main rival nuclear powers of the United States, which possesses extensive military intelligence capabilities.
Analysts consulted by international media suggest that the evolution of the conflict could largely depend on the role that Russia and China, two strategic allies of Iran, choose to play.
According to these evaluations, Moscow is unlikely to participate directly in the confrontation as it has maintained a strong military commitment in Ukraine for over four years.
China, for its part, has shown a preference for a scenario of international stability while cautiously monitoring the development of the conflict.
Still, eventual Russian support in intelligence could assist Iran in identifying key American targets in the region, adding an additional element of tension.
Previous military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran
The military relationship between the two countries is not new.
Iran has supplied drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine, a support that has been widely documented by Western governments.
The current potential exchange of intelligence could be seen as an extension of that strategic cooperation.
According to sources cited by The Washington Post, the exact extent of Russian support in target identification is still unclear.
Additionally, Iran's ability to locate U.S. military positions would have deteriorated after the first days of fighting.
U.S. attacks and casualties
On Sunday, an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait resulted in the death of six American soldiers and left several others injured, according to official reports.
Since the onset of the conflict, Iran has launched thousands of attack drones and hundreds of missiles against military positions, diplomatic facilities, and other targets associated with the United States.
Meanwhile, the joint offensive by the United States and Israel has struck over 2,000 targets in Iranian territory, including ballistic missile sites, naval facilities, and structures linked to the country's leadership.
"The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed," stated White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, who refrained from commenting on the alleged Russian assistance.
“His retaliation with ballistic missiles diminishes each day, his navy is being annihilated, his production capacity is being demolished, and his allies are hardly putting up a fight,” he added.
Silence of Moscow and Washington
According to the report from Post, the Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comments regarding the accusations.
The Kremlin has publicly called for an end to the war, which it described as an "unprovoked act of armed aggression," despite Russia maintaining its own invasion of Ukraine since 2022.
For its part, the CIA and the Pentagon declined to comment on the reports regarding the alleged cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
When asked about the possible role of Russia and China in the conflict, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth downplayed the issue.
"They really are not a factor here," he stated.
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