U.S. intelligence analysts are examining whether Russia played a part in recent Iranian drone attacks on CIA facilities across the Gulf, according to four people familiar with the matter. The individuals, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the subject, said officials have not reached a definitive conclusion on Moscow’s involvement.
Investigators are weighing the precision and effectiveness of the strikes alongside Russia’s established pattern of technical support for Iran as potential indicators of a connection. It has previously been reported, and confirmed by U.S. officials, that Russia has supplied targeting assistance and other backing for Iranian operations against American interests in the Gulf more broadly. However, the specific inquiry into Russian involvement in the CIA facility strikes had not been made public until now.
Reports indicate at least two CIA sites came under attack in March. One target was the CIA station operating out of the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while another site hit was located in eastern Iraq. Several sources indicated that additional CIA locations were also struck, though specifics were withheld.
Intelligence Memo Points to Russian Role in Targeting
An internal memo produced by a Western intelligence agency reportedly concluded that Russia likely contributed to identifying targets at regional CIA sites. A regional official who had reviewed the document shared this assessment, asking that the memo’s origin remain undisclosed.
Two Western officials briefed on the intelligence in the Gulf region said analysts believe the Riyadh strike involved two Russian-modified Shahed drones. According to their account, the first drone created an opening in a vulnerable section of the embassy’s exterior wall, and the second flew through that gap before detonating. No casualties were reported in the incident.
Although Russian support for Iran has existed for years given the depth of their alliance, deliberately targeting sensitive CIA installations would suggest Moscow is prepared to escalate its interference with American operations, particularly as the U.S. works to wind down the broader conflict with Iran.
Worries about Russian involvement in targeting grew following a separate strike over the weekend on a U.S. air base in Jordan, where Iranian ballistic missiles hit army barracks and killed two soldiers.
The White House directed inquiries to the CIA, which chose not to comment. Iran’s UN mission, Russia’s Defense Ministry, and Saudi officials also did not respond to requests for comment.
How Russia May Be Aiding Iran’s Drone Program
Officials in the Gulf region said Russian assistance has helped Iran extend the range and reliability of its Shahed drones, with analysts suspecting an upgraded version was used in the Riyadh strike.
A separate source said Russia supplied Iran with the Kometa-M satellite navigation system, which experts describe as considerably more precise and resistant to jamming than Iran’s domestically produced alternative, improving the accuracy of Shahed-136 drones. The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Russia had provided Iran with this technology, a claim the Kremlin dismissed as “fake news.”
CIA facilities abroad typically include country-level stations based in U.S. embassies, along with additional offices, safe houses, and operational sites used for surveillance and logistics. The exact locations of these sites remain tightly guarded secrets, and sources declined to specify how many CIA facilities were hit or where they were located. One source estimated the number at somewhere between two and eleven, while another simply said several sites were affected.
Uncertainty Remains Over Russian Targeting Support
Whether Iran actually used Russian targeting data in the Riyadh embassy strike remains an open question for analysts. Some sources cautioned that Iran might have simply been targeting the embassy as a whole, with the CIA station being hit incidentally.
Still, several analysts noted that few countries other than Russia would have both the capability and motivation to weaponize such sensitive intelligence against American targets.
Daniel Hoffman, a former CIA station chief and undercover operations officer, said it would come as no surprise if Moscow assisted Tehran in targeting CIA sites given how closely the two nations’ strategic interests align. He noted that both countries share a common goal of diminishing or eliminating American influence in regions they consider their own spheres of control.
As the investigation into these Iranian drone attacks on CIA facilities continues, U.S. officials have yet to publicly confirm the extent of Russia’s involvement, leaving the full picture of this intelligence partnership still unclear.