U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia and President Vladimir Putin may be providing “some level” of assistance to Iran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump acknowledged that the United States has been supporting Ukrainian forces in their war against Russia and said Moscow could similarly be assisting Iran.
According to several U.S. media reports, Russia may be sharing information about American military positions in West Asia with Iran. Such intelligence could help Iran improve the accuracy of its missile and drone attacks.
However, U.S. Special Envoy for West Asia Steve Witkoff said the Russian government has assured Washington that it has not provided any such intelligence information to Iran.
Reports on Possible Russian Intelligence Sharing
Responding to a question about whether Putin is supporting Iran, Trump said he believes Russia may be offering limited assistance. He added that since the United States has been helping Ukraine in its war against Russia, Moscow might be taking such steps in response.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Russia has provided Iran with information about the locations of U.S. military ships and aircraft. The report said such information could be more effective than Iran’s relatively weak satellite system.
Trump had earlier downplayed the potential impact of alleged Russian assistance, saying Iran’s current situation is not particularly favorable.
Oil Prices and Temporary Easing of Russian Oil Sanctions
Meanwhile, as oil prices rose due to the war, the Trump administration has temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil in an effort to stabilize the market. The Kremlin has described the move as a necessary step for its economic needs.
