Iran Attacks CIA Facilities in the Gulf Region, Possibly with Russian Assistance? Lavrov Refutes Western Claims

[Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yi, Global Times Correspondent in Russia Xiao Xinxin] The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Lavrov stated at a press conference following the Russia-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the 22nd that currently, in the West, especially in Washington, there is a "hype" around a narrative claiming that Russia is directly providing weapons to Iran for attacking U.S. facilities, and "hearing such claims is even somewhat embarrassing."

On the 22nd, Reuters reported an "exclusive" claiming that four "sources" revealed that U.S. intelligence analysts are investigating whether Russia was involved in Iran's attack on the CIA's intelligence facilities in the Gulf region. The report stated that U.S. officials also believe that Russia provided target designation and other support for Iran's strikes against U.S. targets in the Gulf region.

The CIA's main bases in some countries are usually located within U.S. embassies, referred to as "sites." The CIA also has offices, safe houses, logistical hubs, and surveillance facilities, all of which are highly classified. Sources declined to disclose the exact number and locations of the CIA facilities that were attacked by Iranian drones. Some sources indicated that the number of attacked facilities was "more than one, less than twelve."

A Gulf region official described an internal memorandum from a Western intelligence agency, which stated that Russia likely played a role in locating the CIA facilities in the region. Some officials indicated that analysts believe that two Iranian "Shahed" drones, modified by Russia, were used in the attack against Saudi Arabia, with one drone creating a breach in a weak point of the U.S. embassy's external defenses, and the second drone flying through this breach and detonating. The aforementioned officials stated that Russia helped Iran enhance the "Shahed" drones' ability to reach their targets, and analysts suspect that Iran previously used these upgraded models of drones in attacks against Riyadh. Other sources claimed that Russia assisted Tehran in improving the accuracy of its drones by providing satellite navigation systems.

According to a report by TASS on the 23rd, Russian presidential spokesman Peskov stated that he does not believe that certain questionable reports provide a reason for the Russian side to comment.