by Rocheford T. Gardiner
WASHINGTON — In a move that signals a deepening military alliance between two of America’s primary adversaries, Russia has begun providing Iran with real-time targeting intelligence to facilitate strikes against U.S. and Israeli assets, according to senior U.S. officials.
The intelligence sharing reportedly includes the precise locations of U.S. warships, aircraft carriers, and forward-deployed military bases across the Persian Gulf and broader Middle East.
Key Developments
The Nature of the Aid: Officials describe the effort as “comprehensive,” involving high-quality satellite imagery and electronic intercepts. This data is critical because Iran’s own domestic tracking capabilities have been significantly degraded by recent U.S. and Israeli air strikes.
Strategic Motivation: U.S. intelligence suggests Moscow views this as “payback” for Washington’s continued military support for Ukraine. By helping Iran target Americans, the Kremlin likely hopes to divert U.S. resources and attention away from the European theater.
The Conflict Scale: The report comes less than a week after a major escalation on February 28, 2026, which saw joint U.S.-Israel strikes on over 2,000 Iranian targets. Since then, Iran has launched thousands of drones and missiles in retaliation, including a strike in Kuwait that killed six U.S. service members.
Official Responses
The White House and the Pentagon have adopted a stance of “calculated dismissal” regarding the impact of Russia’s help:
The “New” Axis of Resistance
Analysts note that this marks the first time Russia has moved beyond diplomatic support to provide direct “kinetic” assistance to Iran during an active conflict with the West. While there is currently no evidence that Russia is directing the strikes, the provision of actionable data makes them a silent partner in the Iranian offensive.
Meanwhile, latest reports coming in speak of both sides attacking civilian infrastructure as well as lucrative oil facilities. Overnight, Israel and her partner – the USA – reportedly hit a key oil facility near Tehran. Video footages from the strike show a great orange ball of fire, with smoke billowing high into the dark skies. Iranian health authorities have asked citizens to take cover as there is a risk of acid rain. A desalination plant was also reportedly hit.
Iran, in retaliation, also hit a Saudi desalination plant.