Trump says Putin may be helping Iran ‘a bit’
Trump says Putin may be helping Iran ‘a bit’
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, asserted that Vladimir Putin and Russia might be offering Iran limited support during the ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Israel. This claim emerged during an interview with Fox News, where Trump noted the U.S. also aids Ukrainian forces in their struggle against Russian military presence.
US Assistance to Ukraine
While the U.S. provides intelligence to Kyiv for targeting key military installations and energy infrastructure, this aid was temporarily suspended in March 2023 after heightened discussions between American and Ukrainian officials.
Russian Intelligence Sharing with Iran
According to reports from U.S. media, Russia has reportedly shared coordinates of U.S. military vessels and aircraft with Iran, potentially aiding missile and drone strikes in the region. Iran’s limited satellite capabilities mean such data could significantly enhance its surveillance efforts.
US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, stated that Russia had assured the Trump administration it was not supplying intelligence to Tehran. Yet, Trump suggested that Putin might still be providing Iran with some assistance, remarking,
“I think he [Putin] may be helping them a bit, yeah.”
He added,
“He probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, and they do it, and we do it.”
Sanctions and Global Energy Impact
Trump’s comments followed the U.S. decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil, aiming to stabilize rising prices amid the conflict’s third week. Initially, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed the measure would offer Moscow only minimal financial gain, but later conceded it was “an inevitability” and “unfortunate.” The Kremlin welcomed the move, with special envoy Kirill Dmitriev stating,
“the United States is effectively acknowledging the obvious: without Russian oil, the global energy market cannot remain stable.”
Previous Dismissiveness
Trump had previously downplayed the role of Russian intelligence in the conflict, telling reporters on Air Force One on March 7,
“If they are, they’re not doing a very good job.”
He added,
“Iran is not doing too well.”
