U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegers said Washington was “not concerned” about reports that Russia was providing Iran with intelligence on troop positions and movements in the region.
In an interview with Major Garrett on CBS’s “60 Minutes” airing this Sunday, Heggs declined to formally confirm the reports but insisted the military was fully aware of the situation. He noted that the United States is “tracking everything” and ensuring that this data is incorporated into current combat strategies.
Heggs highlighted the strength of the nation’s surveillance capabilities, claiming “our commanders know everything.” He further added, “We have the best intelligence in the world. We know who is talking to whom.”
Addressing the potential threat to U.S. personnel posed by these reports, Heggs assured the public that the government is prepared to deal with any possible threats. intelligence leakage. “We’re not concerned about that,” he said, adding, “We’ll mitigate the impact as needed.”
Hegseth also stressed that President Donald Trump is being kept informed of these developments. “The American people can rest assured that their commander in chief knows who is talking to whom,” he said.
Heggs It warned that any illegal cooperation between foreign powers will be met with a firm response from the United States. “Anything that shouldn’t happen, whether overt or covert, will be vigorously contested,” he said.
Earlier reports said Russia has been providing Iran with intelligence on the location and movements of U.S. personnel, ships and aircraft. CNN reported that the development marked the first sign of Moscow’s direct involvement in the ongoing conflict, according to sources familiar with U.S. intelligence reporting.
A large portion of the shared data is reportedly imagery from Moscow’s advanced high-altitude satellite network. While the nature of this information is clear, the compensation Russia receives for this support remains uncertain. CNN has contacted the Kremlin and the Russian Embassy in the United States washington Leave a comment on this matter.
Although a Washington Post report first highlighted this intelligence sharing, it has not been confirmed whether specific Iranian attacks can be directly attributed to Russian data. However, many Iranian drones have recently attacked areas where US troops are stationed.
CNN previously reported that an Iranian drone struck a makeshift facility in Kuwait on Sunday, killing six U.S. service members. “This shows that Russia still likes Iran very much,” a source familiar with the matter said.
In addition to Russia’s involvement, there are signs that China may be preparing to provide Iran with financial aid, equipment parts and missile components. Although Beijing has so far avoided direct involvement in the war, it remains heavily dependent on Iranian oil and has reportedly pressured Tehran to ensure the safe passage of Iranian oil for ships. Strait of Hormuz.
A source familiar with the situation told CNN, “China is more cautious in its support. It wants the war to end because it jeopardizes their energy supplies.” The CIA declined to issue a statement, and the Chinese embassy in Washington has been asked to comment on potential aid to Iran.
Despite these reports of foreign involvement, Hegseth told reporters on Wednesday that Russia and China “are not the real factors in the conflict.” The military partnership between Russia and Iran has grown over the past three years, particularly in missile and drone technology.
This cooperation includes Iran providing Shahd drones and ballistic missiles to Ukraine, as well as helping to establish drone manufacturing facilities in Russia. In exchange, Iran sought Russian aid to advance its nuclear program.
Currently, the U.S. military operation against Iran involves more than 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets and two aircraft carriers. Gen. Brad Cooper, commander of Central Command, said this week that the main military goal is to destroy Iranian military bases. ballistic missile ability.
Hegseth said Iran has been using these capabilities as a “shield” to further its nuclear ambitions.
