Kyiv: Russia has been providing satellite intelligence on Gulf states and US assets on them to Iran, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed.
On a post on X, he claimed that Russian satellites have been maintaining surveillance over Gulf states and US military facilities in the region since early July and this has been recorded by Ukraine.
“I will instruct our intelligence to share with our partners the information we have regarding Russia’s new assistance to the Iranian regime. Since the beginning of July, we have recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and US military facilities located there,” he said.
“These images subsequently appear in Iran. At the same time, there is a clear correlation between Russia’s satellite imagery of these sites and Iranian strikes – both before the attacks, in preparation for them, and afterward, to assess the damage inflicted,” he wrote in the post, as reported by Hindustan Times.
On July 19 and 20 alone, Russian satellites focused on four regional air bases, two in Bahrain, one in Jordan, and one in Kuwait, Zelenskyy specified.
“On July 19 and 20 alone, four air bases fell within the area of interest of Russian satellites – two in Bahrain, one in Jordan, and one in Kuwait. The purpose is clear. None of us in the world should turn a blind eye to one very simple fact: evil always seeks ways to make things worse and spread further. Russia must be stopped. This war must be stopped. Pressure on the aggressor must work,” he added.
These allegations came at a time when the security situation in and around the Black Sea and adjoining areas continues to remain volatile due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Indian seafarers have been warned by the Ministry of External Affairs against seeking jobs on commercial vessels operating in the region after Russia attacked a cargo ship, killing four Indians.
Meanwhile, Iran stated on Sunday that there was progress in talks with Oman on management of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic shipping route crucial for oil and gas trade. Tehran had also said on Saturday that it had not recorded any US attacks after nearly two weeks of strikes, AFP reported.
According to an Axios report, the Pentagon presented US President Donald Trump with a plan for a 14th consecutive night of strikes, but he declined to authorise it.
Trump’s order came after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran “for talks on a new arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz”, the report said.
