US intelligence circles are investigating whether Russia was behind Iran's March drone attacks on at least two CIA facilities in the Persian Gulf. The probe is examining claims that Moscow assisted the attacks by providing targeting information or advanced drone technology to Tehran.
Former CIA station chief and covert operations officer Daniel Hoffman said such cooperation would not be surprising. Hoffman said, "They have a common interest in completely reducing or eliminating US influence in their self-defined spheres of influence."
Russia is known to have provided Iran with advanced Shahed drone technology and the Kometa-M navigation system. However, the Kremlin denied claims that the Kometa-M system was transferred. US sources also suspect that UAVs used in an attack in Riyadh may have been upgraded Russian-made versions.
The claim that Russia provided specific targeting data for the CIA facilities has not yet been officially confirmed. The investigation is ongoing.