The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, told senators on Thursday (April 30th) that Vladimir Putin’s Russia is helping Iran during its ongoing conflict with the United States, raising fresh concerns about Moscow’s involvement in the widening regional war.
During a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Caine acknowledged Russian support for Tehran but refused to disclose operational details.
“There’s definitely some action,” the general told lawmakers.
Caine cited the public nature of the hearing as a reason for withholding other specifics.
Roger Wicker accuses Russia of undermining US targets
The committee’s Republican chairman, Roger Wicker, echoed Caine’s assessment and issued an even stronger warning about Moscow’s intentions.
“There is no question that Vladimir Putin’s Russia is taking serious steps to undermine our efforts to succeed in Iran,” Wicker said during the hearing.
The remarks marked one of the clearest public acknowledgments yet by senior US officials that Russia may play an active role in supporting Tehran as the conflict escalates.
Growing concerns about wider international involvement
The comments come amid escalating geopolitical tensions over the Iran war, which has increasingly drawn global powers.
US officials have repeatedly accused Russia and Iran of deepening military cooperation in recent years, particularly through arms transfers and intelligence coordination.
The Senate hearing focused on the Iran war and defense policy
The hearing came as lawmakers questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military leaders about the cost, strategy and consequences of the Iran war that began nearly two months ago.
The administration has defended the military campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from pursuing its nuclear ambitions, while critics say the conflict risks destabilizing the wider Middle East and stretching US military resources.
Lawmakers from both parties also discussed rising defense spending, threats to US troop deployments and rising tensions between NATO allies and Russia.
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Reports point to Russian-Iranian military cooperation
Russia has increasingly helped Iran with drone warfare tactics and intelligence support as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Tehran escalates, according to Western intelligence assessments and numerous international reports.
The CNN report cites Western intelligence officials
According to a CNN report, a Western intelligence official said Moscow is helping Tehran implement counter-drone strategies originally developed during Russia’s war in Ukraine to target US and Gulf assets in the Middle East.
An official told CNN that Iran’s Shahed drones — now mass-produced by Russia for use in Ukraine — have proven unexpectedly effective at penetrating Gulf air defense systems.
The intelligence source reportedly said that while Russian support for Iran previously focused on general targeted assistance, Moscow is now offering specific tactical guidance that signals a significantly deeper level of military cooperation between the two countries.
Zelensky on the expansion of the Russian-Iranian alliance
In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi expressed concern about growing Russian support for Tehran.
In a post on X, Ukraine’s president said Russia had begun assisting the Iranian regime with drones and could also provide missile and air defense support.
“Given the situation, there is only one question: when and which country will be the first to support the Iranian regime by sending troops?” Zelensky wrote.
Comparing North Korea’s military support to Moscow, he added: “Like what happened with Russia when North Korea sent 10,000 troops who are now stationed in Russia but may be sent to Ukraine. The same could happen in Iran – Russia could send troops there.”
The conflict in the Middle East is intensifying
The ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran has heightened fears of a wider regional confrontation with countries across the Middle East increasingly affected by instability.
Amid escalating tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly expressed support for Iran’s leadership after Tehran announced Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s next supreme leader.
According to AFP, Putin expressed his “unwavering support” and said: “At a time when Iran is facing armed aggression, your retention in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and sacrifice.
Washington Post report on intelligence sharing
Earlier this year, The Washington Post reported that Russia was supplying Iran with intelligence to help target US military forces and assets in the Middle East.
Citing three officials familiar with the intelligence, the newspaper said Moscow had provided Tehran with locations for US military assets, including US warships and aircraft operating in the region, since the start of the conflict.
According to the report, the intelligence sharing reflected expanding strategic coordination between Moscow and Tehran as the two countries face the United States and its allies on multiple fronts.
Concerns about geopolitical escalation
The news heightened concerns among Western governments that the Iran conflict could evolve into a broader geopolitical confrontation involving Russia and potentially other US adversaries.
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