Russia provided intelligence data that helped Iran target US troops.
Iran's foreign minister confirmed that Moscow is sharing information on the locations of US military assets in the Middle East, assisting Tehran in carrying out precision strikes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has officially confirmed that Russia is supporting his country in many ways amid escalating conflicts with the United States and Israel. This statement comes after intelligence reports indicated that Moscow is sharing factual data on the location of US military forces in the Middle East.
Confirmation of Moscow's intelligence support
Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that the military relationship between Tehran and Moscow is no secret. He emphasized that this cooperation has existed for a long time and continues to be strong. When asked about Russia sharing intelligence to help Iran respond to the US and Israeli "Operation Epic Fury," Araghchi confirmed that Russia is providing assistance in various ways, although he did not elaborate on the technical details.
Sources reveal that since the joint US-Israel airstrikes began on February 28, the Kremlin has provided Iran with the coordinates of US warships, aircraft, and other military equipment. This is seen as indirect but comprehensive support from a major US adversary in this conflict.
Satellite target designation and imagery capabilities
Military experts believe Iran's ability to locate enemy forces has significantly diminished after a week of fighting. Therefore, data from Russia is crucial. Dara Massicot, an expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, suggests that Iran is conducting precision strikes against U.S. early warning radar systems and command infrastructure.
Massicot explained that Iran lacks its own independent military satellite network. Meanwhile, Russia possesses advanced space capabilities and target designation expertise honed after years of conflict in Ukraine. Using Russian satellite imagery allows Iran to bypass the dense air defense networks of the US and its allies. In fact, the quality of Tehran's attacks has significantly improved compared to previous conflicts.
The Kremlin's strategic calculations
Russia's support is seen as an act of "retaliation" for US assistance to Ukraine. Moscow sees many benefits from a prolonged war in the Middle East, including higher oil prices and a distraction for the West from the Ukrainian front. Notably, in a separate development, three US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were disabled without direct intervention from Iran.
However, analysts assert that Russia will not intervene militarily directly. For the Kremlin, Ukraine remains the number one strategic priority. Moscow will only provide technical and intelligence support to maintain pressure on the US without directly drawing itself into a new war in the Middle East.