WASHINGTON: US CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow on Tuesday (Aug 25) for conferences with Russian officers, US media retailers reported, citing unnamed sources.
The go to can be the primary recognized go to to the Russian capital by a US spy chief since Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, held talks with Vladimir Putin in November 2021. About three months after that assembly, the Russian president launched Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
CBS Information and Axios reported the go to by Ratcliffe, US President Donald Trump’s CIA chief, who served as director of nationwide intelligence in Trump’s first time period. The retailers didn’t say who he was assembly with or what the talks are anticipated to cowl.
The CIA declined to remark. The Kremlin didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
On Monday, the US warned countries to cut business ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions, a transfer aimed toward stepping up financial stress on Tehran to settle the struggle that Trump launched in February.
The US has no ambassador to Russia, which maintains an in depth strategic partnership with Iran involving in depth navy, financial and diplomatic ties.
Tehran equipped Moscow with drones for its struggle in opposition to Ukraine. In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of supplying its model of these drones to Iran.
A Ukrainian intelligence evaluation reported by Reuters in April mentioned that Russia has aided Iran with satellite tv for pc imagery to be used in focusing on US amenities within the Center East.
Moscow denies offering such help and has mentioned it is able to assist resolve the US-Iran battle.
