Russia may have provided Iran with intelligence that could help Tehran target American military assets in the Middle East, according to a report citing US officials familiar with intelligence assessments.
The Associated Press reported that two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, said Moscow shared information that could potentially assist Iran in striking US warships, aircraft and other military targets. If confirmed, the development would mark the first indication that Russia could be edging closer to direct involvement in the conflict triggered by the US-Israel military campaign against Iran last week.
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However, the US intelligence community has not found evidence that Russia is directing Iran on how to use the information, the report said.
White House plays down impact of alleged intelligence sharing
The White House sought to minimise the significance of the reports. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that any reported intelligence exchange between Russia and Iran had not altered the course of the conflict.
"It clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them," Leavitt said.
The conflict intensified after US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on February 28, which triggered a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran across parts of the Gulf. The fighting has shaken several countries in the region, with air defences activated and explosions reported in multiple cities.
Pentagon says US monitoring situation closely
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking in an interview with CBS’s "60 Minutes", said Washington was closely tracking any communication between Moscow and Tehran.
"The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who's talking to who," Hegseth said, according to the Associated Press. "Anything that shouldn't be happening, whether it's in public or back-channelled, is being confronted and confronted strongly," he added.
Leavitt declined to say whether US President Donald Trump had discussed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the president would address the matter himself if necessary.
Kremlin avoids direct response
Asked whether Russia had provided intelligence or military assistance to Iran since the start of the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not directly answer the question.
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"There has been no such request from Tehran," Peskov said, adding that Russia remains in dialogue with Iranian leadership. Russia is among the few major powers that maintains close diplomatic and military ties with Iran.
Those ties have deepened in recent years, particularly during Russia’s war in Ukraine, where Moscow has relied on Iranian-supplied drones and missile technology. Analysts say the growing strategic relationship between the two countries has raised concerns in Washington and among US allies about possible cooperation in broader regional conflicts.
