Multiple U.S. and Western intelligence sources told reporters that Russian intelligence agencies have been supplying Iran with a range of information intended to assist Iranian military operations against the United States, Israel and Gulf partners.
According to those accounts, Moscow has provided Iran with satellite imagery and instruction on drone targeting techniques, material that has been used to support strikes on U.S. forces positioned in the region. The people who described these developments spoke on condition of anonymity.
One source emphasized that the reporting does not establish how effective or timely the intelligence transfers are, nor does it confirm how often Russia supplies Iran with information that is immediately actionable. The level of detail and the frequency of the assistance were identified as open questions by those familiar with the matter.
Observers point to an existing operational link between the two countries highlighted by Russia’s use of Iranian Shahed attack drones during its invasion of Ukraine. That connection has been cited as context for the current allegations of intelligence sharing.
At a military briefing in London, UK Defence Secretary John Healey commented on the apparent similarities between recent Iranian attacks and tactics used by Russia in Ukraine. "No one will be surprised to believe that Putin’s hidden hand is behind some of the Iranian tactics and potentially some of their capabilities as well," Healey said.
The accounts in this report are based on information provided by U.S. and Western intelligence sources and reflect the assessments they shared with reporters. The precise operational impact of the alleged intelligence transfers, and whether they represent an ongoing pattern of cooperation, was described by one source as uncertain.
Because the reporting relies on anonymous sources and leaves unresolved questions about timing and usefulness of the material, the situation remains subject to further clarification by official agencies.