Rachel Maddow

which would make imagery provided by Russia and its much more advanced space capabilities highly valuable to the Iranians.

So again, this was first reported by the Washington Post, this reporting then corroborated by the Associated Press and by us here at MSNOW.

The upshot is that Russia is helping Iran.

Russia specifically is giving them targeting information, giving them very specific locations, using their own intelligence capabilities to give the Iranians very specific locations so they know where to attack American troops to try to kill them and where to attack American facilities in the Middle East.

Russia is giving Iran that information.

What should the United States do about that?

Well, under the leadership of Donald Trump, the United States has decided that under these circumstances, what our response is going to be is that we're going to ease sanctions on Russia.

Ease sanctions on Russia.

Trump has moved to give Russia relief from sanctions.

Trump has moved specifically to let Russia sell more of its oil and gas.

Get around sanctions, restrictions that might have prevented them from doing that before.

I mean, Russia is allies with Iran, right?

Russia issued a statement of congratulations when Iran chose Khomeini's son to replace him as the country's supreme leader.

Congratulations, Junior!

Enjoy your Ayatollahship!

a close relation, a close connection to the radical and powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Putin sends his personal congratulations.

But, you know, Russia, as much as they might not want to see their ally put in difficult straits, Russia financially is actually really enjoying this moment.

Because what does Russia have to offer the world?

What does Russia have to offer the world economy?