China and Russia are facilitating some of Iran’s actions during its military conflict with the United States “at various levels,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers, CNN reports.

“There are many ways in which we are deterring this activity… and the details of its depth and scope must remain classified,” Hegseth said during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.

“Nevertheless, there are areas in which both of these countries… at various levels are assisting what Iran is doing,” the Pentagon chief added in response to a question from Republican Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota.

When Senator Hoeven put the same question — whether China and Russia are helping Iran in the current war — to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, he said that he preferred not to discuss the topic in an open, unclassified session.