Iranian foreign minister and US envoy to UN comment on Russian support for Tehran
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected calls for a ceasefire with Israel and the US and acknowledged that Iran receives support from Russia. Mike Waltz, US Ambassador to the UN, has said that any assistance Moscow may be providing Tehran "hasn't shown to help them very much".
Source: Araghchi in an interview on NBC News' programme Meet the Press; Waltz in an interview on Meet the Press
Details: Araghchi noted Israel and the US had violated a ceasefire reached to end a 12-day war last year. "And now you want to ask for a ceasefire again? This doesn't work like this," he said.
"There needs to be a permanent end to the war. Unless we get to that, I think we need to continue fighting for the sake of our people and our security," Araghchi added.
Four sources told NBC News on Friday 6 March that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence about the location of US forces in the Middle East, including information that could help Iran identify the positions of American naval vessels.
Asked whether Iran is receiving support from Russia, Araghchi replied that "cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new, it's not a secret". He did not confirm whether Russian intelligence helps Iran locate US military facilities.
"They are helping us in many different directions. I don't have any detailed information," he said.
In a separate interview with Meet the Press, Waltz commented on reports that Russia is sharing intelligence with Iran, saying he has "no doubt President Trump will deal with it accordingly".
Asked whether he believed Russia had entered the conflict, he answered: "We know that both Russia and Iran have had this symbiotic relationship."
Quote from Waltz: "If they [the Russians] are providing anything, it certainly hasn't been very effective, because the US military is decimating Iran's air force, air defences, navy, ground forces, command and control. So whatever they're providing, if they're providing anything, hasn't shown to help them very much."
Background:
- The Washington Post reported on 6 March that Russia is providing Iran with information about targets for attacks on US troops in the Middle East.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he is not concerned that Russia is sharing intelligence with Iran for strikes on American military positions.
- US President Donald Trump refused to comment on media reports that Iran is receiving intelligence from Russia to strike the positions of American troops.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 8 March that Russia is assisting the Iranian regime.
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