Russia is providing information to Iran about…- TheConclaveNg

Russia is providing information to Iran about the location of U.S. forces in the Middle East, a boost for Tehran as it launches missile and drone strikes against American bases and other targets in the region, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

Intelligence assistance from Russia could help Iran locate American warships, radars or other communications systems, but there is no indication that Moscow is helping direct Iranian missile or drone attacks, the sources said.

Iran has begun firing missiles and drones at US bases and other American targets after the US and Israel launched an air war against the regime on Saturday.

Russia’s decision to provide Iran with its satellite data and other intelligence information underlines the growing geopolitical fallout of the war and could pose potential risks to American ships, planes and bases in the region.

The Washington Post first reported Russia’s assistance.

Trump, when asked by a reporter about Russian intelligence assistance to Iran, said the question was “stupid.”

“This is an easy problem compared to what we’re doing here,” the president said during a panel discussion on college sports in the East Room. “What a stupid question to ask right now.”

Trump said the United States was doing “very well” in its attacks on Iran.

“Someone said, how would you rate it from zero to 10? I said, I would give it 12 to 15. Their army is gone. … Their navy is gone. Their communications are gone. Their leaders are gone. Two sets of leaders are gone. They’re down to the third set. Their Air Force has been completely wiped out. Think about it,” he said.

Publicly available images of Iranian attacks in recent days showed that American military radar, satellite dishes and communications infrastructure were attacked at American bases in the Persian Gulf.

Iran has a small number of military satellites, but Russia can draw on a vast network of satellites and other data to provide the Tehran regime with intelligence on U.S. forces faster and with greater precision, as well as more accurate assessments of battle damage resulting from Iranian air strikes, according to Nicole Grajewski, an expert on Russia-Iran cooperation and assistant professor at the Center for International Studies at Sciences Po in Paris.

The kinds of targets Iran appears to be targeting, sometimes successfully, suggest that Tehran is receiving enhanced intelligence, he said. Iranian airstrikes appear to be more precise than in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, and more targeted particularly at radar sites and communications posts.

“It appears they are seeking command and control” of American forces, he said.

Iranian tactics also appear to resemble Russia’s air campaign in its war with Ukraine, with swarms of drones targeting infrastructure followed by ballistic missile strikes, Grajewski said.

In an interview with NBC News’ Tom Llamas on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his government is receiving political and other assistance from Russia and China, but declined to provide details.

“They are supporting us politically and otherwise,” Araghchi said.

The long-standing military cooperation between Iran and Russia is “not a secret,” he said.

Asked whether Iran was receiving military assistance from Russia or China, he replied: “Well, I won’t give details of our cooperation with other countries in the midst of the war.”

President Donald Trump has often said he has a great relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has said that Moscow would not have launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine if he had been in the White House at the time.

At a Pentagon news conference earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked about Russia and China’s calls for an immediate ceasefire and whether the United States had a message for Moscow or Beijing.

“I don’t have a message for them. They’re not really a factor here,” he said. [NBC]

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