By
David Rohde
Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Iranian forces strike American ships, aircraft and bases in the region, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter tell MS NOW.
“Russia is providing intelligence help to Iran,” said one of the U.S. officials.
Both officials said that U.S. intelligence agencies have not uncovered evidence that Moscow is directing Iranian officials or forces regarding what to do with the information.
“I’ve seen nothing that suggests that Russia is playing a strategic or tactical combat role,” said one. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of the issue.
President Donald Trump on Friday chastised a Fox News reporter for asking him if Russia was helping Iran target U.S. forces.
“That’s an easy problem compared to what we’re doing here,” Trump said during a White House event on the future of college sports., before adding, “What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time.”
Speaking separately at the White House on Friday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt played down the importance of the Russian activity. “It clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them,” she said.
And Defense Secretary Pete Hegsteth said in a 60 Minutes interview on Friday that President Trump is aware of “anything that shouldn’t be happening” and it “is being confronted and confronted strongly.”
He added that the Russian activity was not a concern. “We’re not concerned about that,” Hegseth said. “But the only ones that need to be worried right now are Iranians that think they’re gonna live.”
Democrats have accused Trump of failing to criticize actions that Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken against the U.S. interests and for failing to adequately support Ukraine’s effort to defend itself from Russia’s invasion.
Congressional Republicans have also expressed alarm. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told MS NOW, “Russia and Iran are locked in an unholy alliance.”
The Washington Post and The Associated Press first reported on the Russian information sharing with Iran.
David Rohde
David Rohde is the senior national security reporter for MS NOW. Previously he was the senior executive editor for national security and law for NBC News.