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Russia has increased intelligence sharing with Iran and is providing satellite imagery and advanced drone technology, with the aim of supporting Tehran in its confrontation with the United States.
The axis between Moscow and Tehran is further strengthening. Sergei Chemezov, the executive director of Rostec, the Russian state giant that controls a large part of the defense industry, held a meeting in recent days with the Iranian ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali.
The news comes from an internal letter, dated March 13, distributed to around 800 companies that are part of the Rostec group and obtained exclusively by Racket News, journalist Matt Taibbi's Substack platform.
In the document, Rostec’s top executives asked companies to submit proposals for “developing cooperation” with Iran. The deadline for submitting ideas was March 16, in preparation for a meeting with the Islamic Republic’s ambassador to the Russian Federation. The letter confirms and expands on recent reports of intensified military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries.
Expanding military cooperation
According to the Wall Street Journal, Russia has increased intelligence sharing with Iran and is providing satellite imagery and advanced drone technology, with the aim of supporting Tehran in its confrontation with the United States.
The same source had previously reported that Moscow had shown Iranian authorities US targets, including warships and aircraft. According to these reports, Iranian attacks supported by Russian intelligence have hit, among others, a THAAD early warning radar in Jordan, as well as targets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
Rostec's letter suggests that Moscow does not see this cooperation as just a short-term one, but as part of a broader strategy for a long-term partnership. An anonymous source cited by Racket News described the situation as a mutual benefit for Russia.
Rostec and the role of Chemezov
Sergei Chemezov has early connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin: both served in the 1980s at the KGB office in Dresden, East Germany.
Before the invasion of Ukraine, Chemezov aimed to turn Rostec into a global player in the defense industry, comparable to companies like Siemens or General Electric. The group had established partnerships with Western companies like Renault-Nissan and controls major Russian automakers like Kamaz and AvtoVAZ.
Rostec, established by government decree in 2007, manages hundreds of factories and research institutes and, according to Russian state media, produces about 80% of the weapons that supply Russia's armed forces. In 2023, the group had over 660,000 employees and revenues of $31.6 billion.
A deepening partnership
The cooperation between Russia and Iran is not new, but it is entering a more structured phase. According to previously published analyses, Russian support for Iran resembles the model with which Western countries have helped Ukraine after 2022.
There are indications that Iranian attacks on military targets, including command infrastructure and radars, have benefited from a joint information-sharing system with Russia.
This relationship is also supported by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between the two countries, signed on January 17, 2025 by Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The agreement includes 47 points and aims to expand economic cooperation, mitigate the impact of US sanctions, and strengthen military and political ties.
A January 2025 report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also highlights Russia's active support for Iran's space and satellite program, which could significantly increase Tehran's capabilities in remote surveillance and strike.
Racket News' revelation, along with Wall Street Journal reporting and ISW analysis, show that the relationship between Moscow and Tehran is no longer just tactical, but is consolidating into a long-term strategic partnership. / Inside Over
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