Iranian FM Araqchi: Cooperation with Russia is not news or a secret

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has stated that Tehran's cooperation with Moscow is "not news and not a secret." The comment came in response to media reports suggesting Russia might be providing support to Iran amid its ongoing conflict with the United States.

Araqchi made these remarks during an interview on Sunday, March 8. When questioned about whether Iran is receiving assistance from Russia, he emphasized the long-standing nature of their bilateral relations.

"They help us in many areas. I don't have detailed information," the minister added, declining to provide specifics on the nature of any current aid.

Araqchi notably avoided confirming or denying reports that Russian intelligence services are helping Iran locate American military assets in the region.

Recent reports had alleged that Russia has been supplying Iran with intelligence to target US forces in the Middle East since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28. According to these accounts, such information included the locations of American ships and aircraft.

The reports suggested this intelligence sharing represents an indirect involvement by Moscow in the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. It was also noted that Iran's own capabilities for identifying targets have diminished since the fighting began, though the exact extent of Russian assistance in missile targeting remains unclear.