US Intelligence Chiefs Grilled on Aid to Ukraine, and Russia’s Help for Iran
At the Senate Intelligence Committee’s annual “Worldwide Threats” hearing, senior US intelligence officials faced questions over pressure on aid to Kyiv and Moscow’s reported help to Tehran.
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WASHINGTON, DC – US intelligence officials acknowledged Wednesday that a prolonged conflict with Iran could strain the supply chains and munitions needed to support Kyiv, as lawmakers questioned whether Washington can sustain both fronts at once.
Although the annual “Worldwide Threats” hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee focused mainly on Operation Epic Fury and Iran, Ukraine and Russia’s reported support for Tehran repeatedly surfaced during the questioning.
A particularly notable exchange came when lawmakers asked whether Russia was providing intelligence support to Iran.
Referencing remarks by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Democratic Senator Jack Reed said Russian leaders had told President Donald Trump they were not sharing intelligence with Tehran and asked whether officials accepted that claim.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe replied bluntly: “No, I don’t take Vladimir Putin at his word.”
When Reed followed up by asking directly, “Are they providing intelligence to the Iranians?” Ratcliffe stopped short of a full public answer but made clear the matter was serious and would be addressed behind closed doors.
“The Iranians are requesting intelligence assistance from Russia, from China and from other adversaries of the United States,” Ratcliffe said, adding that whether those countries were providing it was something officials could discuss in classified session.
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Pressed again, Ratcliffe said: “I know the answer and I’m happy to discuss that with you in the classified portion.”
Later, Ratcliffe stopped short of confirming media reports about Russian or Chinese cooperation with Iran, but said such behavior would not be surprising.
“Media reports about Russian or Chinese collaboration with Iran, I would point out that the media is not a classification authority,” he said. “I would also say, it sounds like something Russia and China would do.”
The exchange underscored growing concern that Russia’s role in the Iran crisis may have direct implications for the war in Ukraine.
Reed warned that the fallout from the conflict could cut both ways: Moscow could benefit from shifting economic conditions, while Ukraine could suffer from supply disruptions as US resources are redirected to the Middle East.
“Even so, Iran and its proxies remain capable of and continue to attack US and allied interests in the Middle East. If a hostile regime survives, it will seek to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its missiles and UAV forces,” Gabbard added.
But when asked to assess whether Iran posed an imminent threat, she drew a distinction between intelligence analysis and presidential decision making.
“It is not the intelligence community’s responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat,” Gabbard said, adding that such judgments are for the president.
Ratcliffe likewise avoided endorsing a short timeline when senators asked whether Iran could have struck the United States within six months. Instead, he emphasized the threat posed by Iran’s missile development to Europe, US bases and American interests in the region.
“If Iran were allowed to develop at the IRBM ranges, which is 3,000 kilometers, it would threaten most of Europe,” Ratcliffe said, referring to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
He added that degrading Iran’s missile production capability during Operation Epic Fury was therefore important to US national security.
“We can walk and chew gum at the same time”
Lawmakers asked whether the United States can continue supporting Ukraine while also funding and supplying Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East. Intelligence officials acknowledged the pressure, saying high-end munitions are being used up quickly. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Director Lt. Gen. James Adams said Russia still holds the battlefield advantage because of a widening gap in force strength.
Gabbard and Ratcliffe said the United States can manage both conflicts, but the exchange showed growing concern in Congress that a wider war with Iran could come at Ukraine’s expense.
“My question is that usual problem of how do we do both, are we doing both, is US support maintained or diminished for Ukraine as a result of Epic Fury?” Senator Jerry Moran asked.
Lt. Gen. Adams responded with a blunt public assessment of the battlefield.
“Based on the force composition and the delta between the Russian forces and the Ukrainian forces, the advantage is to the Russians,” Adams said.
He said munitions used in Operation Epic Fury would have an impact on supplies, but added that efforts were already underway to boost production.
Ratcliffe defended the administration’s approach, saying policymakers believed the United States could continue operating on both fronts.
“I’m confident that we can walk and chew gum at the same time” by pursuing objectives in the Middle East while continuing support related to “the Russian aggression in Ukraine,” he said.
Earlier in the hearing, Gabbard described Russia’s war against Ukraine as a “slow war of attrition,” saying Moscow currently holds the “upper hand” on the battlefield. She said US-led negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are ongoing, but suggested Russia is likely to keep pressing until a formal agreement is reached.
Sevinj Osmanqizi is a journalist covering US foreign policy, security, and geopolitics, with a focus on the broader post-Soviet space. She reports on Washington’s decision-making and its implications for Ukraine and regional stability.
