Russia trying to use intelligence sharing with Iran as bargaining chip in war against Ukraine

Russia is trying to use the transfer of intelligence to Iran as a “bargaining chip” in the war against Ukraine. The Kremlin has proposed that Moscow refuse to provide such assistance to Tehran in exchange for a similar step by Washington regarding Ukraine.

The US, according to preliminary data, rejected the “generous” offer.

The Kremlin’s plan was told at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Analysts said that the Kremlin is trying to use the exchange of intelligence with Iran as a bargaining chip in the war against Ukraine.

This follows from a Politico report published the day before, on March 20.

According to two informed sources of the publication, the Kremlin’s proposal to stop transferring intelligence to Iran in exchange for the US refusing to transfer intelligence to Ukraine to the States was brought by the CEO of the russian Direct Investment Fund and the Kremlin’s key negotiator Kirill Dmitriev.

During a meeting on March 11 in Miami with US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Dmitriev shared with them the idea of stopping Moscow’s transfer of data to Tehran for strikes on American forces in the Middle East. In return, the Kremlin wants the US to curtail the exchange of intelligence with Ukraine.

Politico sources claim that the US rejected Dmitriev’s proposal.

This is far from the first proposal from Moscow to Washington regarding Iran. In particular, the Kremlin wanted Iran’s enriched uranium to be exported to the russian federation. However, so far, neither this nor other russian proposals have interested the US.

Analysts recalled that, according to sources reported by The Wall Street Journal, the cooperation between the Iranian and russian regimes does not end with intelligence sharing. It also includes russia transferring drone technology to Iran and providing advice to support a strike campaign against Israeli and American forces in the Middle East.