US probes Russia's role in Iran's drone attacks on CIA facilities

US intelligence is investigating whether Russia provided targeting data or advanced drone technology in Iran's March attacks on CIA facilities in the Persian Gulf. No casualties occurred in the attacks.

Scraper SystemJuly 23, 2026, 11:31 AM

US probes Russia's role in Iran's drone attacks on CIA facilities

US intelligence is investigating Russia's role in Iran's March drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Persian Gulf. The investigation focuses on whether Moscow provided Tehran with targeting data or advanced drone technology support.

At least two CIA facilities were struck by Iranian drones in the attacks, with no reported casualties. Russia is known to have supplied Iran with Shahed drone technology and the Kometa-M navigation system, but the Kremlin denied transferring the Kometa-M.

Former CIA station chief and covert operations officer Daniel Hoffman said it would not be surprising if Moscow helped Tehran target CIA facilities. "They have a shared interest in completely reducing or eliminating US influence in what they determine to be their spheres of influence," Hoffman said.

The US intelligence investigation has not yet confirmed whether Russia provided targeting data specifically for these attacks. The suspicion among analysts that the drones used in the Riyadh attack were upgraded Russian-made versions is also part of the probe.