Russian cooperation with Iran could strain Moscow’s relationship with Trumppublished at 23:35 GMT 9 March
Liza Fokht
BBC News Russian, reporting from Berlin
Image source, ReutersPresident Trump, beside Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, on Air Force One
Trump’s call with Putin earlier followed several reports indicating that Russia has been helping Iran in its conflict with the US and Israel.
Over the weekend, several American outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the Associated Press, cited anonymous officials claiming that Moscow was providing Tehran with intelligence that helped it to target military personnel and assets in the Middle East. Russia has not officially confirmed it is helping Iran.
But Moscow has condemned the strikes against Iran, calling them a “reckless step”.
Theoretically, helping Iran attack US targets could strain Moscow’s relationship with the Trump administration.
The US and Russia met several times this year for talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine — talks in which the Kremlin has been hoping Washington would put pressure on Kyiv.
The White House has not said whether Russia is indeed helping Iran, but insists that such assistance would make little difference.
“If you take a look at what’s happened to Iran in the last week, if they’re getting information, it’s not helping them much,” Trump said yesterday while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who is leading negotiations with Russia, also stopped short of confirming whether Russia was indeed sharing intelligence with Iran.
However, according to Witkoff, he “firmly” warned Moscow not to help Tehran.