US intelligence analysts are investigating whether Russia assisted Iran in carrying out drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Persian Gulf by providing intelligence on the targets or transferring advanced drone technology, Reuters reported, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
Based on the report, US intelligence believes Russia may have played a role in the attacks, but has not yet reached a final conclusion regarding Moscow’s involvement.
In March 2026, Iran launched drone attacks against at least two CIA facilities — one located within the US Embassy compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and another in eastern Iraq. Reuters’ sources said there were additional attacks, but did not provide further details.
Analysts believe the strike on the CIA facility in Riyadh was carried out using a Russian-modified version of Iran’s Shahed drones. One source told Reuters that Russia helped Iran improve the accuracy of its Shahed-136 drones by providing the Kometa-M satellite navigation system, which is considered more resistant to electronic jamming than Iran’s domestically developed guidance system.
Reports that Russia was supplying Tehran with intelligence on US forces and facilities first emerged about a week after the launch of the large-scale US-Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28, 2026. Russia has denied providing such assistance.
