The United States is investigating whether Russia helped Iran carry out drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Gulf by providing targeting information
or advanced drone technology, according to a Reuters report citing four people familiar with US intelligence. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said investigators have not reached any final conclusion on Russia's role. However, they are examining whether the precision of the attacks and Russia's long-standing military support to Iran point to possible involvement. Reuters reported that while Russia has already been linked to providing broader military support to Iran in attacks on US targets in the Gulf, the investigation into possible Russian involvement in strikes specifically targeting CIA facilities has not been reported earlier.
CIA Facilities Hit In Saudi Arabia, Iraq
According to Reuters, at least two CIA-linked facilities were hit in March.
One of them was the CIA station located inside the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Another site was in eastern Iraq. Some sources told the news agency that additional CIA facilities were also targeted but did not reveal their locations.
An internal memo prepared by a Western intelligence agency reportedly concluded that Russia had likely played a role in helping target CIA facilities, according to an official in the region who had access to the document.
Two Western officials based in the Gulf told Reuters that analysts believe the attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh involved two Russian-enhanced versions of Iran's Shahed drones.
According to them, one drone created a hole in a vulnerable section of the embassy building, while the second drone flew through that opening before exploding. No deaths or injuries were reported.
The report said that if Russia was directly involved in helping target CIA sites, it would mark a significant escalation in Moscow's support for Tehran at a time when Washington is trying to contain the conflict with Iran.
Russia's Role Under Scanner
US intelligence officials are also examining whether Iran used Russian targeting data for the embassy attack.
However, investigators have not ruled out another possibility - that Iran may have simply aimed at the US Embassy and accidentally struck the CIA station inside it.
According to Reuters, concerns over Russia's role grew after Iran carried out missile strikes on a US air base in Jordan over the weekend, killing two American soldiers.
The report also said Russia has helped Iran improve the accuracy of its Shahed-136 drones by supplying the Kometa-M satellite navigation system, which experts say is more accurate and harder to jam than Iran's own navigation technology.
The Wall Street Journal had first reported in March that Russia supplied the Kometa-M system to Iran. The Kremlin had rejected the report, calling it "fake news."
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 Reuters' requests for comment.
Former CIA Officer Explains Why Russia Could Help Iran
CIA stations are the agency's main intelligence offices in foreign countries and are usually located inside US embassies. The agency also operates safe houses, logistics hubs and surveillance facilities overseas, though their exact locations are closely guarded.
Sources told Reuters they would not reveal the exact number or locations of the CIA facilities that were hit. One source said the number was "more than one and fewer than a dozen," while another said several facilities had been attacked.
Daniel Hoffman, a former CIA station chief and undercover operations officer, said it would not be surprising if Russia had helped Iran target CIA facilities because of the close ties between the two countries.
"They share an interest in trying to reduce or eliminate U.S. influence altogether in their self-designated spheres of influence," he said.
