Analyst: Ratcliffe's Moscow visit may have been linked to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

American analyst Liana Fix presented a new theory on why CIA Director John Ratcliffe secretly visited Moscow on August 25, speaking on BILD editor-in-chief's podcast RONZHEIMER. According to her, Iran may have been one of the key topics discussed during the trip.

Fix believes Ratcliffe may have urged the Kremlin to scale back its military and economic support for Tehran, including halting the transfer of weapons and defense technology. She noted that Russia has previously supplied Iran with satellite imagery that helped it target U.S. facilities, and that the two countries also cooperate through a so-called "shadow fleet" used to circumvent international oil sanctions.

Goal: reopening the Strait of Hormuz

The analyst suggested that Trump may have sent Ratcliffe with a specific request — to get Russia to pressure Iran into allowing the Strait of Hormuz to reopen. As for what Russia might expect in return, Fix outlined two possibilities: either Moscow will demand something in exchange, or Washington will instead threaten Russia with new sanctions.

The real challenge: China, not Russia

Fix argued that Washington's bigger problem in this situation is not Russia but China, which buys a significant share of Iranian oil and has little interest in helping the U.S. pressure Tehran. She pointed out that there are notable doubts within the Trump administration about further escalating tensions with Beijing — a hesitation that also extends to the war in Ukraine and trade tariffs.

The analyst also questioned whether Ratcliffe's visit was solely about security risks to Europe. According to media reports, during the trip he warned Russian officials about the consequences of aggression against NATO member states, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.