Russia Is Suspected of Assisting Iran in Attacks on CIA Facilities — Reuters
Russia may have assisted Iran in preparing attacks on U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facilities. According to Reuters, at least two CIA facilities were attacked in March, including one station in Saudi Arabia.
Iranian drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Persian Gulf prompted U.S. intelligence analysts to investigate whether Russia provided assistance in the form of target intelligence or advanced UAV technology. Four individuals familiar with the activities of U.S. intelligence agencies reported this to Reuters.
The sources emphasized that U.S. intelligence officials have not yet reached a final conclusion regarding Russia’s possible involvement in the attacks on CIA facilities.
However, they pointed to the effectiveness and apparent precision of the strikes, as well as the extensive technical support Russia provides to Iran, as possible evidence.
At the same time, Reuters and other media outlets reported—and U.S. officials confirmed—that Russia provided Iran with target data and other support during its strikes on U.S. facilities in the Persian Gulf region. However, the intelligence community’s investigation into Russia’s possible involvement in supporting attacks on CIA facilities had not previously been made public.
Specifically, at least two CIA facilities were attacked in March. One of them was a station in Saudi Arabia, located at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, and the other was a facility in eastern Iraq. Some sources reported that other CIA facilities were also attacked, but did not disclose details.
“An internal memo from a Western intelligence service, described by an official in the region who had access to the document, concluded that Russia likely played a role in the attacks on regional CIA facilities,” Reuters adds.
Two Western officials in the Persian Gulf also reported that two Russian-modified versions of Iranian “Shahed” drones were used during the attack on Saudi Arabia. They noted that one of the drones punched a hole in a vulnerable section of the embassy’s outer wall, while the second flew through the hole and exploded. No casualties were reported at the time.
“Although Russia has long been providing assistance to Iran due to the close ties between the two countries, these targeted attacks on key CIA facilities indicate that Moscow is prepared to go even further in disrupting U.S. operations, even as Washington seeks to end the war with Iran. Fears that Russia might be providing Iran with target data intensified this weekend following strikes on a U.S. airbase in Jordan, where Iran fired ballistic missiles at military barracks, killing two soldiers,” the report noted.
Oil prices are rising due to U.S. strikes on Iran and threats from the Houthis — Reuters.
As a reminder, global oil prices fell following Iran’s statements about possible negotiations with the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump approved a nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia that could pave the way for the country to enrich uranium.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that it would take Iran 20 to 25 years to recover from the U.S. strikes. He made this statement during a conversation with reporters on Tuesday, July 21.
