ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian satellites photographed a US air base in Saudi Arabia on three separate occasions in the days before Iran struck it, wounding American troops, adding that he has no doubt Moscow was feeding that intelligence to Tehran, US media reported.

Russian satellites imaged Prince Sultan Air Base on March 20, 23, and 25, he told NBC News. Iran attacked the base on March 26, wounding 10 American service members, including two seriously, and damaging several US refueling aircraft, The Wall Street Journal reported.

"I don't believe -- I know -- that they share information," Zelenskyy said, adding he was "100%" certain Russia is helping Iran. Drawing on Ukraine's experience of Russian surveillance patterns, he explained that a first image signals preparation, a second a simulation, and a third means an attack within one or two days.

Zelenskyy also warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin stands to benefit financially from a prolonged Mideast conflict, particularly after the US temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil to ease global energy pressures. Putin "will get more money, much more money, and he will put this money to weapons," he said.

The claims add to a growing body of concern over Russian-Iranian cooperation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Moscow was providing military assistance to Iran "in many different directions," without specifying whether that included intelligence about US forces.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had previously said Putin personally assured US President Donald Trump that Russia was not sharing intelligence with Iran. A Western intelligence official separately told CNN that Russia had been sharing advanced drone tactics from its Ukraine campaign with Iran.

Speaking to Fox earlier this month, Trump brushed aside concerns about Russian intelligence being shared with Iran, saying: "I think he (Putin) may be helping them a bit, yeah.”

"He probably thinks we're helping Ukraine," added Trump. "They do it, and we do it."

The US and Israel on Feb. 28 launched an air offensive on Iran, so far killing over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.