Washington – The United States is investigating whether Russia helped Iran carry out drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Gulf by providing targeting intelligence or advanced drone technology, according to four people familiar with US intelligence, Reuters reports.
The intelligence review has not reached a final conclusion, but officials are examining the precision of the attacks and Russia’s long-standing military cooperation with Iran as possible indicators of Moscow’s involvement.
Reuters reported that at least two CIA-linked sites were struck in March. They include the CIA station housed within the US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and another facility in eastern Iraq. Some intelligence sources said additional CIA locations were also targeted, although they declined to disclose further details.
According to a Western intelligence memo cited by Reuters, Russia likely played a role in helping Iran target regional CIA facilities. Two Western officials briefed on intelligence assessments said the Saudi attack appeared to involve upgraded versions of Iran’s Shahed drones enhanced with Russian technology.
The officials said one drone breached a vulnerable section of the embassy’s exterior before a second flew through the opening and exploded. No casualties were reported.
US officials are also examining whether Russia supplied targeting data for the Riyadh strike. However, some analysts cautioned that Iran may have been aiming at the US embassy generally rather than specifically targeting the CIA station.
Reuters noted that Russia has already been reported to have provided Iran with targeting assistance during attacks on broader US interests in the Gulf. Intelligence officials are now assessing whether that support extended to covert CIA facilities.
Sources also said Russia has helped improve the accuracy of Iran’s Shahed-136 drones by supplying the Kometa-M satellite navigation system, which experts say is more accurate and harder to jam than Iran’s domestic alternative. The Kremlin has previously denied supplying the technology.
The White House referred Reuters’ request for comment to the CIA, which declined to comment. Iran’s mission to the United Nations, Russia’s Defence Ministry and the Saudi government also did not respond to requests for comment.
Former CIA station chief Daniel Hoffman told Reuters it would not be surprising if Russia assisted Iran in targeting CIA facilities because both countries share a strategic interest in reducing US influence in the region.
Reuters said the investigation remains ongoing and no official determination has yet been made regarding Russia’s direct involvement.
