- President Donald Trump believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely assisting Iran in its military efforts against the US, drawing a parallel with US support for Ukraine.
- “I think he might be helping them a little bit, yeah, I guess,” Trump said Friday in an interview with Fox News. The comment contrasts with statements from Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who reported that Russian officials denied sharing intelligence with Iran.
- Witkoff detailed separate calls where Putin and his foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, explicitly stated Russia was not sharing intelligence with Iran.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump and Witkoff had conveyed to Russian officials their disapproval of any intelligence sharing with Iran.
- It comes amid reports suggesting that Russia could earn more than $10 billion in oil and gas revenues as a result of Trump’s lifting of restrictions on countries buying Russian crude stranded at sea amid the war with Iran.
IN FULL
Trump admits that Putin could be helping Iran despite what his envoy claimed
