https://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:52:43 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog-trump-khamenei/33640284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog-trump-khamenei/33640284.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:05:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories The United States has again temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil, issuing a new waiver that allows certain shipments already at sea to be delivered and sold, even as Washington publicly insists it is maintaining pressure on the Kremlin. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-oil-sanctions-waiver-treasury-iran/33735009.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-oil-sanctions-waiver-treasury-iran/33735009.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:12:42 +0200 RussiaNewsIranThe Rundown Stories Hopes that shipping would resume through the Strait of Hormuz proved short-lived on April 18, with Iran's announcement that it was reopening the vital waterway being reversed just hours later and only a handful of vessels daring to attempt a passage. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ceasefire-negotiations-iran-hormuz-pakistan/33734753.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ceasefire-negotiations-iran-hormuz-pakistan/33734753.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:38:13 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Ilya Remeslo, a longtime pro-Kremlin blogger who was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after abruptly directing strongly worded criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin, says he has been released after a month in the facility in St. Petersburg. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-criticism-remeslo-released-psychiatric/33734732.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-criticism-remeslo-released-psychiatric/33734732.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:52:30 +0200 NewsRussiaRussia Invades Ukraine In an interview with RFE/RL on April 17, Ryan Kirkley, CEO of blockchain payments company Global Settlement Network, explained the worldwide economic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, why markets are moving at varying paces, and why oil prices may already be turning. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-hormuz-oil-bitcoin-economy-markets/33734697.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-hormuz-oil-bitcoin-economy-markets/33734697.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:47:50 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories A little-known Islamist group has claimed a string of attacks on Jewish sites and Western financial institutions across Europe since early March. https://www.rferl.org/a/hayi-iran-attacks-europe-jewish-centers/33734573.html https://www.rferl.org/a/hayi-iran-attacks-europe-jewish-centers/33734573.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:07:16 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesEurope Iran said it has opened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping traffic for the reamiiner of a 10-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, and US President Donald Trump again suggested that Washington and Tehran could reach a deal to end the US-Israeli war with Iran in the near future. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-israel-lebanon-hormuz/33734636.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-israel-lebanon-hormuz/33734636.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:33:06 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East China is Iran’s most important ally, but it lacks the full diplomatic and economic leverage to force Tehran to make concessions, according to experts who spoke to RFE/RL. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-trump-xi-oil-middle-east-peace-cease-fire-talks/33734488.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-trump-xi-oil-middle-east-peace-cease-fire-talks/33734488.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:38:43 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina A senior Republican lawmaker has raised concerns over continued US-origin components appearing in Russian weapon systems amid Ukrainian reports that recent drone strikes show evidence of Western microelectronics manufactured as recently as 2025. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmaker-wilson-flags-western-chips-russian-iranian-drones/33734451.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmaker-wilson-flags-western-chips-russian-iranian-drones/33734451.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:58:52 +0200 IranNewsFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Prayers for peace, cease-fires, and an ongoing energy crisis dominated the seventh week of the conflict in the Middle East. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-war-week-seven-photos/33734337.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-war-week-seven-photos/33734337.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:41:21 +0200 Photo GalleriesIranPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories As hundreds of Russian drone and missile attacks hit Ukraine on the night of April 15-16, Current Time correspondent Borys Sachalko narrowly avoided one of the strikes. He recorded a video from inside his shattered apartment building in Kyiv, where shrapnel had claimed the life of a young neighbor. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-air-strikes-journalist/33733918.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-air-strikes-journalist/33733918.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:16:54 +0200 Ukraine The Czech Republic demanded an explanation after Russia’s Defense Ministry published a list of companies it claimed are helping produce attack drones for Ukraine and bellicose former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called it “a list of potential targets” for the Russian military. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drones-europe-czech-threat-medvedev/33733898.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drones-europe-czech-threat-medvedev/33733898.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:46:22 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Easter celebrations in the western Turkmen city of Balkanabat were overshadowed by a coordinated security operation near the only Christian church, with dozens of local Turkmen converts detained during Catholic and Orthodox services. https://www.rferl.org/a/33733767.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33733767.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:13:17 +0200 NewsTurkmenistan The Rundown Stories Russian influencer Victoria Bonya made a personal address to Russian President Vladimir Putin: In a country where political debate and criticism of the authorities is tightly controlled, she brought up problems people face in their everyday lives. Except the war in Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-influencers-make-up-ukraine-war/33733737.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-influencers-make-up-ukraine-war/33733737.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:09:01 +0200 FeaturesRussiaThe Rundown Stories Despite suffering significant losses, Iran believes it is winning the war against the United States and Israel. That view is shaping Tehran’s conduct in the conflict and its demands in peace talks. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-victory/33733726.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-victory/33733726.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:29:02 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East At least 16 people were killed in a massive wave of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine on April 16, which hit Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and other locations across the country. Officials said more than 100 were injured in the strikes. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-odesa-dnipro-strikes-deadly-russian-missiles/33733575.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-odesa-dnipro-strikes-deadly-russian-missiles/33733575.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:49:58 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades Ukraine US President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran are "very close" to a deal to end the war and that US and Iranian negotiators could meet for a second round of talks this coming weekend. https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-lebanon-leadership-talks-peace/33733502.html https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-lebanon-leadership-talks-peace/33733502.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:28:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's commissioner for sanctions policy, told RFE/RL in an interview that any relief for Moscow and Russian oil only serves to extend the war. https://www.rferl.org/a/waivers-russia-oil-us-sanctions-ukraine/33733519.html https://www.rferl.org/a/waivers-russia-oil-us-sanctions-ukraine/33733519.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:25:47 +0200 IranFeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Beatings, torture, rape, not to mention corruption, are commonplace in the Russain armed forces. Artyom Bykov’s ordeal as a contact soldier with the 273rd Artillery Brigade provides a small window into a system of institutionalized violence. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-army-hazing-brutal-violence-deserter/33732979.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-army-hazing-brutal-violence-deserter/33732979.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:45:41 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Russia fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Kyiv, Dnipro, and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least 19 people across the country in one of the largest bombardments in months. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-attacks-drones-missiles-barrage/33733467.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-attacks-drones-missiles-barrage/33733467.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:25:20 +0200 NewsFeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories