CIA Director John Ratcliffe Reportedly Visits Moscow for Talks
U.S. media reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow for meetings with Russian officials, with no details released on the talks.
Moscow, Russia. CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with Russian officials, according to U.S. media reports citing unnamed sources.
The reported visit would be the first known trip to the Russian capital by a U.S. intelligence chief since Ratcliffe’s predecessor, William Burns, held talks with President Vladimir Putin in November 2021.
Reports and official responses
CBS News and Axios reported Ratcliffe’s visit but did not identify the Russian officials he was expected to meet or say what the discussions would cover.
Ratcliffe serves as CIA director under U.S. President Donald Trump and previously served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term.
The CIA declined to comment. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
U.S.-Iran pressure
The reported visit came after the United States warned countries on Monday to cut business ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions, in a move intended to increase economic pressure on Tehran to settle the war Trump launched in February.
The United States has no ambassador to Russia, which has a close strategic partnership with Iran covering military, economic and diplomatic ties.
Russia-Iran ties
Iran supplied Russia with drones for its war against Ukraine. In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of supplying its version of those drones to Iran.
A Ukrainian intelligence assessment reported by Reuters in April said Russia had provided Iran with satellite imagery for use in targeting U.S. facilities in the Middle East.
Moscow denies providing such assistance and has said it is ready to help resolve the U.S.-Iran conflict.
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