Russia has emerged as one of Iran’s most trusted allies since war erupted in the Middle East last month, with the Kremlin offering intelligence and military expertise to the Islamic Republic.
Moscow’s support has ranged from sharing satellite imagery and battlefield intelligence to advising on drone tactics drawn from the war in Ukraine, according to Western officials.
Although it has stopped short of direct military involvement, experts have not ruled out the possibility.
Meanwhile, the US has eased sanctions on Russian oil sales as it tries to contain oil prices pushed up by the war, in a move which critics warn will enable Moscow to prolong its invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year.
Western officials say Russia has been supplying Iran with intelligence about US military positions in the region, including the location of warships and aircraft.
According to three officials familiar with the intelligence, the assistance has been ongoing since the start of the conflict.
One source told The Washington Post the alleged Russian support amounted to a ‘pretty comprehensive effort’ to help Tehran target American forces in the region.
The full extent of Moscow’s involvement remains unclear, but analysts say the intelligence sharing may help explain the precision of some Iranian attacks.
Dara Massicot, an expert on the Russian military at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Iran had been making ‘very precise hits’ on radar and command infrastructure and appeared to be striking in a highly targeted way.
Russia’s satellite capabilities may play a role in this. Iran operates only a small number of military reconnaissance satellites, limiting its ability to track naval assets and other moving targets.
