Retired U.S. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt says reports that Russia is providing intelligence support to Iran are unsurprising, arguing that China also has strategic reasons to favour a prolonged conflict.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, August 2, 2026, Kimmitt said Russia’s reported intelligence sharing with Tehran mirrors U.S. intelligence support for Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
“The Russians providing intelligence to Iran should be the least surprising intelligence finding of this entire Ukrainian war. We have been providing intelligence to the Ukrainians to kill Russians since 2022… I’m sure that our intelligence people have accommodated that,” he said.
Kimmitt also argued that Beijing benefits from a prolonged conflict because it forces the United States to expend advanced weapons, including Patriot air defence missiles, Javelin anti-tank missiles and rockets.
“China wants to prolong this war because the longer they can prolong the war, the more Patriots we fire, the more Javelins we fire, the more rockets we fire. And every rocket that we fire is one that can’t defend Taiwan,” he said.
He further downplayed reports that Iran could receive about 400 man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), saying U.S. forces have the technology, tactics and operational experience to counter such weapons effectively. While acknowledging the reported shipment, Kimmitt maintained it would have limited military impact but reinforced his view that China is motivated to see the conflict continue.
