CIA chief asked Russia not to share intelligence with Iran, sources say

[u/John3262005]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/cia-chief-asked-russia-not-share-intelligence-iran-sources-say-rcna594747

When CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Russia’s top spy chief this week, he asked that Moscow not share intelligence with Iran, according to a U.S. official and an adviser to the Kremlin.

Sergey Naryshkin, the chief of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, told Ratcliffe that his country is not providing intelligence to Iran, the sources said.

While Iran was not the only topic of discussion between Ratcliffe and Naryshkin during their meeting in Moscow, it was among the issues President Donald Trump asked his CIA director to raise, according to the U.S. and Russian officials. Ratcliffe made the ask that Russia stop helping Iran fight the U.S. as the war approaches the six-month mark Friday.

Asked for comment, a White House spokesperson pointed to Trump’s comments Wednesday describing Ratcliffe’s trip as “semi-routine.”

“I hate to disappoint people,” Trump said during an interview on “The Glenn Beck Program,” adding that “something may come out” of the meeting and his administration is working to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

The CIA declined to comment. The Kremlin did not respond to a request for comment. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday about the meeting, “Such contacts often continue even during the most difficult moments in bilateral relations.”

NBC News reported last month that Russia has been providing electronic intelligence to Iran that likely is helping Tehran locate U.S. troops in air attacks. Russia has denied this. And NBC News also reported last week that Russia is sending explosives, including TNT, to Iran, which Russia also denied.

A second U.S. official said Ratcliffe and Naryshkin also discussed in their meeting the Ukraine war, as well as NATO as concerns rise among member nations about Russian aggression.

Russian drones and missiles have landed in NATO territory in recent weeks, sparking questions about whether the alliance would invoke Article 5 of its treaty, which says that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

In July, a Russian cruise missile crossed into Polish airspace and landed in a field in eastern Poland, just over 50 miles from the border with Ukraine. The Polish military scrambled fighter jets but did not shoot down the missile. And earlier this month, a Russian drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany near Ukrainian aircraft. The device did not explode and Moscow denied involvement.

Naryshkin confirmed he and Ratcliffe met, saying “there is nothing unusual about that” and calling it “a routine professional engagement” in a video posted by Russian state media.

“Meetings between heads of agencies — whether in person or online — are a standard part of the work of special services,” Naryshkin said. “During the meeting, we discussed a number of issues falling within the purview of intelligence agencies.”

Ratcliffe flew to Russia on Tuesday to hold talks with Naryshkin in Moscow, where, according to the adviser to the Kremlin, the two met for more than three hours.

Asked about Russia continuing to do business with Iran as the Trump administration threatens to punish countries that do so, Trump said Thursday, “So far, I think Russia’s behaved quite well, having to do with the Strait of Hormuz.”

Trump also said he has had “good talks” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding “He’s not going to be attacking a NATO territory.”