Russia has denied sharing intelligence with Iran regarding U.S. military assets in the Middle East, according to a statement by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. The denial came during a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
Key Takeaways
Russia has denied sharing intelligence about U.S. military assets in the Middle East with Iran during a phone call between President Trump and Russian President Putin. Iranian officials have acknowledged receiving aid from Russia but did not confirm specific details about shared intelligence.
- Russia denies sharing US military intel with Iran per Witkoff
- Denial made during Trump-Putin phone call
- Iran acknowledges receiving aid from Russia but lacks detailed info on shared intelligence
Witkoff made the remarks during an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. He stated that Russia assured the U.S. it had not been sharing information about the locations of American warships and aircraft in the region, according to multiple reports. "Yesterday on the call with the president, the Russians said that they have not been sharing," Witkoff said when asked if Washington believed Russia had shared intelligence with Iran.
Despite the denial, questions remain about the extent of military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed to NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday that there is a longstanding military partnership between Iran and Russia. "A military cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new. It’s not a secret," Araghchi said, adding that the relationship has been ongoing and will continue in the future.
When pressed about claims of Russia sharing intelligence with Iran to help Tehran fight against "Operation Epic Fury," Araghchi acknowledged receiving aid from Russia but did not provide detailed information. "They are helping us in many different directions," he said. The Washington Post reported on Friday that U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia has been providing Iran with targeting information, including the locations of American military assets since the U-Israeli airstrikes began on February 28.
President Trump downplayed the significance of any potential intelligence-sharing during an interview with reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Miami. "If you take a look at what’s happened to Iran in the last week, if they’re getting information, it’s not helping them much," Trump said. He also dismissed concerns about how Russia's assistance to Iran might affect U.S.-Russia relations, stating that both countries engage in similar activities.
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