23 July 2026

U.S. intelligence is investigating whether Russia provided assistance to Iran during drone attacks on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facilities in the Persian Gulf region.

Reuters reported on this, citing four sources familiar with the investigation.

According to the agency’s sources, analysts are examining whether Russia provided Iran with intelligence on targets or technologies that could have increased the effectiveness of the strikes.

U.S. intelligence has not yet reached any final conclusions regarding Moscow’s possible involvement.

Among the grounds for the investigation are the high precision of the Iranian drone attacks, as well as the extensive technical support Russia provides to Iran.

Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Photo credits: Fars

Previously, Reuters and other Western media outlets reported that Moscow had assisted Tehran with target intelligence and other support during strikes on U.S. facilities in the region; however, no specific investigation into attacks specifically targeting CIA facilities had been reported earlier.

According to media reports, in March of this year, Iranian drones attacked at least two CIA facilities—one in Saudi Arabia and one in eastern Iraq. At the same time, other sources suggest that there may have been more such attacks.

As noted by two Western officials familiar with intelligence reports, two Russian-modified versions of the Shahed drones may have been used during the strike on the facility in Saudi Arabia. According to them, Russia helped Iran improve the effectiveness of these drones.

Another source reported that Moscow also supplied Iran with Kometa navigation signal receivers protected against electronic warfare, which were integrated into the Shahed-136 drones.

Russian CRPA Kometa 8-element antenna. Photo credits: John Loranty (reibert.info)

It provides higher guidance accuracy and offers better protection against electronic warfare than its Iranian counterparts.

Reuters sources did not disclose the exact number or locations of the CIA targets struck. According to one of the agency’s sources, there were “more than one, but fewer than ten.” A second source reported that several targets were struck.

In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Iranian regime had started receiving assistance from Russia in the form of drones.

USA Investigating Russia’s Role in Iran’s Attacks on CIA Facilities in the Persian Gulf