Russia shared intel with Iran on US targets? Report signals possible Moscow role in Middle East war

In what could be the first sign of Russian involvement in the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran a week ago, US intelligence officials say Moscow may have shared information with Tehran that could help it target American warships, aircraft and other military assets in the region.

According to a report by the Associated Press, citing two officials familiar with US intelligence who spoke on condition of anonymity, Moscow passed along intelligence that could aid Iranian strikes. However, US intelligence agencies have not found evidence that Russia is directing Iran on how to use the information as the conflict with the US and Israel continues to intensify.

If confirmed, the move would mark the first indication that Russia has attempted to involve itself in the conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran a week ago.

Russia is among the few countries that maintains close ties with Iran, which Washington has long accused of pursuing a nuclear programme it wants dismantled and of supporting regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.

White House response

Responding to the reports, Karoline Leavitt downplayed the significance of any alleged intelligence sharing.

“It clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them,” she told reporters on Friday.

Pentagon monitoring developments

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was closely tracking the situation. Speaking in an interview with 60 Minutes on CBS, he said the US was factoring all intelligence into its military planning.

“The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who’s talking to who,” Hegseth said. “Anything that shouldn’t be happening, whether it’s public or back-channelled, is being confronted strongly.”

Leavitt declined to say whether Donald Trump had discussed the issue with Vladimir Putin or whether Washington believed Moscow should face consequences.

Kremlin response

Asked whether Russia might go beyond political support and provide military assistance to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tehran had made no such request.

“We are in dialogue with the Iranian side and will certainly continue this dialogue,” he said, declining to comment on whether Russia had provided any intelligence or military support since the war began.

The intense missile and drone exchanges across the Middle East began after US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The conflict has since escalated with retaliatory Iranian attacks across the Gulf region.

Russia has strengthened ties with Iran in recent years, particularly as Moscow sought Iranian missiles and drones for its ongoing war in Ukraine.