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 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:16:33 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL The body of Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was laid in state in Tehran on July 3 as authorities began a week of funeral processions for the slain cleric. https://www.rferl.org/a/mixed-feelings-iranians-khamenei-iran-funeral/33795536.html https://www.rferl.org/a/mixed-feelings-iranians-khamenei-iran-funeral/33795536.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:35:53 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline Iran's government is preparing a multiday funeral ceremony for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who died in US and Israeli strikes in February. But many Iranians are not mourning his loss, and are instead sharing complex reactions to the death of a man who led an oppressive theocratic regime. https://www.rferl.org/a/as-iran-prepares-elaborate-funeral-for-khamenei-many-recall-a-brutal-leader/33795397.html https://www.rferl.org/a/as-iran-prepares-elaborate-funeral-for-khamenei-many-recall-a-brutal-leader/33795397.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:51:36 +0200 VideosIranVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories Residents of Iranian cities say it's increasingly common for women to go out without a head scarf, a violation that previously would have resulted in harassment or detention. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hijab-morality-police-enforcement-war-us-israel-women-freedom-karaj-tehran/33794093.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hijab-morality-police-enforcement-war-us-israel-women-freedom-karaj-tehran/33794093.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:17:44 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories As Iran's wave of political executions continues, 75 French lawmakers took the unusual step of formally adopting individual death-row political prisoners on June 29 as part of a new National Assembly campaign organized by the Iran Freedom Congress (IFC). https://www.rferl.org/a/france-lawmakers-iran-political-sponsorship-execution-prisoners/33791964.html https://www.rferl.org/a/france-lawmakers-iran-political-sponsorship-execution-prisoners/33791964.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:44:23 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories Some Iranians say they risked their lives in the streets and endured hunger, air strikes, and destruction, believing this was the price they were paying for freedom. Now, as the regime survives and Washington returns to negotiations, they are left asking what those sacrifices were for.  https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ceasefire-no-regime-change-public-reaction/33789636.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ceasefire-no-regime-change-public-reaction/33789636.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:15:22 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Consumers in Iran report they are struggling to afford a staple foodstuff: bread. One listener to RFE/RL's Radio Farda calls prices "horrific," while a baker explains he is trying to shield his customers from his own rocketing expenses for rent and utilities. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bread-inflation-consumer-price-war-us-israel/33789622.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bread-inflation-consumer-price-war-us-israel/33789622.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:31:56 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosEconomyThe Rundown Stories The doubling of bread prices in Iran is yet another indicator of the deteriorating state of the economy as ordinary Iranians describe cutting meat, skipping meals out, and struggling to buy their children toys. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bread-economy-poor-us-war/33788675.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bread-economy-poor-us-war/33788675.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 01:00:23 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Iran sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi to 74 lashes for a song without a hijab, but the punishment may only make women’s voices harder to silence, according to a fellow performer, Hana Kamkar. https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-singer-lashes-reaction/33787034.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-singer-lashes-reaction/33787034.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:05:33 +0200 VideosIranVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories Iran and the United States cited progress in talks toward reaching a final peace deal, though comments from both sides highlighted the fragile state of negotiations. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-progress-peace-deal-trump-rubio/33786485.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-progress-peace-deal-trump-rubio/33786485.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:48:49 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Stories Iranian authorities have sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi to a punishment of 74 lashes for performing in a YouTube video that has racked up 2.9 million views over the last two years. Ahmadi sang the well-known patriotic song From The Blood Of the Youth to an empty theater space in 2024. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-singer-sentence-flogging-morality-police-ban-women-life-freedom-hijab-concert-youtube/33783873.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-singer-sentence-flogging-morality-police-ban-women-life-freedom-hijab-concert-youtube/33783873.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:26:54 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories The first shipments of Iranian crude oil in two months have departed the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-monitoring firm TankerTrackers.com. This comes just days before senior Iranian and US officials are expected to sign a preliminary agreement in Switzerland aimed at ending the war. https://www.rferl.org/a/first-iranian-crude-exports-in-two-months-leave-hormuz/33783096.html https://www.rferl.org/a/first-iranian-crude-exports-in-two-months-leave-hormuz/33783096.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:50:33 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos Iranians say they have been warned by security officials not to speak to US-funded Persian-language media, such as RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, amid a crackdown in which the Iranian authorities say they have charged increasing numbers with espionage for “cooperation with the enemy.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:32:46 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East A social media post by Pakistan's prime minister set a 24-hour clock ticking on July 13 as he said a deal between Washington and Tehran was closer “than ever before.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-deal-conflicting-reports-fragile-cease-fire/33779736.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-deal-conflicting-reports-fragile-cease-fire/33779736.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:15:33 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline The United States and Iran have traded strikes for a second day as tensions rise in the Middle East. US Central Command released video of strikes targeting Iranian military sites. Iran responded by attacking US allies in the Persian Gulf region. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strikes-hormuz-bahrain-kuwait-ship-india-ceasefire-talks/33778308.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strikes-hormuz-bahrain-kuwait-ship-india-ceasefire-talks/33778308.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:52:09 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos Iran launched ballistic missiles at northern Israel on June 7, describing the attack as retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Israel responded with a "large-scale strike" on Iran's strategic defense systems. US President Donald Trump urged both sides to avoid further escalation. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-exchange-fresh-strikes/33775841.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-exchange-fresh-strikes/33775841.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:55:51 +0200 IranMiddle East More than three months into Iran's conflict with the United States and Israel, Iranians say they are desperate about meeting basic needs. Some are down to one meal a day, meat is rare, and household appliances are sold off to pay bills. Some Iranians sent messages to RFE/RL's Radio Farda. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-economy-crisis-inflation-us-israel-war-unemployment-internet-irgc/33772766.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-economy-crisis-inflation-us-israel-war-unemployment-internet-irgc/33772766.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:06:01 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority released images of an Iranian drone attack on the country's international airport that took place on June 3. Kuwait says one person was killed and more than 60 were injured in the attack. https://www.rferl.org/a/kuwait-iran-drone-airport-attack/33772477.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kuwait-iran-drone-airport-attack/33772477.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:06:53 +0200 VideosIranVideo ArchiveThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Two more men have been executed in Iran in connection with the January protests with human rights groups condemning growing repression in the country. An Iranian man was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for simply shooting video of protests that first erupted in December 2025. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execution-protest-prisoners-human-rights-video-sentence/33770259.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execution-protest-prisoners-human-rights-video-sentence/33770259.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:42:38 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosHuman Rights The shaky video of the incident recalled the famous "Tank Man" protester on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, who single-handedly defied an armored column during pro-democracy protests in 1989 that were subsequently crushed by tanks. https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-tehran-tiananmen-moment/33770299.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-tehran-tiananmen-moment/33770299.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:03:37 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Headline Internet access in Iran has been partially restored after the government shut down communications at the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign in late February. Iranians told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that they had been unable to check on their loved ones' safety during months of deadly air strikes. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-restored-blackout/33767726.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-restored-blackout/33767726.html Thu, 28 May 2026 19:10:53 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos