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 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:10:48 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL A cease-fire has paused the Iran war but the contradictions are already multiplying. Who foots the bill for Iran’s Hormuz toll? What did Iran and the United States actually agree to on enrichment? And does the deal even cover Lebanon? https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-ceasefire-what-know/33727669.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-ceasefire-what-know/33727669.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:14:04 +0200 IranNewsFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Yemen's Houthis have entered the Iran war, raising fears of a twin chokepoint crisis. But analysts say the missile attack may have been less a shot at Israel than a warning to Gulf Arab states, especially the Saudis, not to deepen their involvement in the conflict. https://www.rferl.org/a/houthis-attack-israel-iran-war-energy-crisis/33718713.html https://www.rferl.org/a/houthis-attack-israel-iran-war-energy-crisis/33718713.html Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:53:03 +0100 IranThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle EastNews Analysis The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, not by a physical blockade, but through a chokehold of missile strikes, mine-laying, massive GPS spoofing, and soaring insurance costs. Military options face high risks and low yields, leaving a political solution as the only clear path. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-blockade-strait-hormuz-navy-escort/33711699.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-blockade-strait-hormuz-navy-escort/33711699.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:25:00 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani, one of Iran’s key leaders, has been killed in an air strike in the capital, Tehran, on March 17. https://www.rferl.org/a/ali-larijani-killed-israeli-strike-iran-security/33708966.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ali-larijani-killed-israeli-strike-iran-security/33708966.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:11:27 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineNews Analysis The US has sunk 60 Iranian navy vessels and destroyed most of Iran's conventional fleet. But the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed because Iran doesn't need a navy to keep ships out. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-navy-destroy-irgc-artesh-us/33703825.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-navy-destroy-irgc-artesh-us/33703825.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:50:12 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Iran must continue to keep a key Gulf shipping lane closed, ⁠Supreme ⁠Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in his first public comments since being named to succeed his late father, hours after several vessels were targeted in strikes as Tehran looks to choke off oil supplies from leaving the Middle East. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-strait-hormuz-closed-supreme-leader-khamenei-us-israel/33703142.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-strait-hormuz-closed-supreme-leader-khamenei-us-israel/33703142.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:35:46 +0100 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East As American and Israeli strikes continue to batter the Islamic republic, the idea of seizing Iran’s Kharg island has been debated in US political circles. https://www.rferl.org/a/kharg-island-iran-persian-gulf-us-seizure/33702075.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kharg-island-iran-persian-gulf-us-seizure/33702075.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:40:44 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories In an interview with RFE/RL, Wladimir van Wilgenburg said while there is significant noise about a Kurdish-led offensive into Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan, the Kurdish groups themselves are being deeply cautious and are currently in an "exploration phase.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-kurds-iraq-wladimir-van-wilgenburg/33697734.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-kurds-iraq-wladimir-van-wilgenburg/33697734.html Sun, 08 Mar 2026 11:01:23 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East With Iran coming under daily attack from US and Israeli air strikes, the toll of the expanding war is adding up both physically and mentally for the country's 92 million people. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-us-cost-of-war/33696207.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-us-cost-of-war/33696207.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:38:56 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Iran's Assembly of Experts is convening to pick the Islamic republic's next supreme leader after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Here's a look at the leading contenders: Alireza Arafi, Hassan Khomeini, and Mojtaba Khamenei. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-khamenei-successor-candidates-assembly-experts/33695094.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-khamenei-successor-candidates-assembly-experts/33695094.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:09:14 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran for decades. His supporters saw him as a wise leader, his critics as an authoritarian who led the Islamic republic into further international isolation. His latter years as supreme leader were marred by mass protests and a brutal crackdown that killed thousands. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-supreme-leader-ali-khamenei/33690681.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-supreme-leader-ali-khamenei/33690681.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 03:34:25 +0100 IranVideo ArchiveVideos Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s spiritual leader and highest authority who led the country for almost four decades, was killed during US and Israeli air strikes on February at the age of 86. https://www.rferl.org/a/khamenei-death-iran-us-strikes-israel-obituary/33690677.html https://www.rferl.org/a/khamenei-death-iran-us-strikes-israel-obituary/33690677.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 03:25:49 +0100 IranNewsObituariesThe Rundown Stories Five Iranian Kurdish groups based in Iraq have announced that they have formed a political coalition aimed at overthrowing the Islamic republic and ultimately achieving Kurdish autonomy. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-exiled-kurdish-alliance-tehran/33685461.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-exiled-kurdish-alliance-tehran/33685461.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:00:28 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesNews Analysis As Iran and the United States prepare for a new round of nuclear talks, Tehran has signaled it is ready to open key sectors to US investment to secure a lasting agreement. Whether that will be enough to sway President Trump, however, remains uncertain. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-economic-incentives-nuclear-deal-trump/33679740.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-economic-incentives-nuclear-deal-trump/33679740.html Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:31:42 +0100 IranFeaturesNuclear TalksThe Rundown StoriesNews Analysis White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's FM Abbas Araqchi are set to meet on February 6 in a last-ditch bid to avert war. As a US naval armada nears, Tehran is facing a tough choice: Make a slew of concessions for an end to Washington's "maximum pressure" policy, or risk war. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-nuclear-talks-oman-war/33669565.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-nuclear-talks-oman-war/33669565.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:46:05 +0100 IranFeaturesNuclear TalksThe Rundown Headline As US forces amass on Iran’s doorstep and Tehran warns of major repercussions if war breaks out, a high-stakes diplomatic effort is under way to avert a regional conflagration. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-diplomacy-negotiations-war/33666881.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-diplomacy-negotiations-war/33666881.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:51:24 +0100 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Iran to “make a deal.” But experts say Tehran is unlikely to agree to an agreement that sees as a capitulation. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-deal-strike-diplomacy/33664049.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-deal-strike-diplomacy/33664049.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:54:58 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline EU foreign ministers have agreed to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, after years of pressure from within and outside the bloc to blacklist the elite force. https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-designate-irgc-iran-terrorist-organization/33663894.html https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-designate-irgc-iran-terrorist-organization/33663894.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:03:14 +0100 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Despite a country-wide Internet blackout, videos showing the extent of Iran's brutal crackdown on protests continue to trickle out. Iranians inside the country have told RFE/RL's Radio Farda how security forces engaged in mass shootings and arrested tens of thousands. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protest-violence-deaths-internet-blackout-information-videos-security-forces-economy/33662504.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protest-violence-deaths-internet-blackout-information-videos-security-forces-economy/33662504.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:08:00 +0100 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Headline European Union ambassadors have agreed to impose sanctions on several Iranian officials for their role in a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests that rocked the Islamic republic earlier this month. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-eu-sanctions-deadly-protests-crackdown/33662357.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-eu-sanctions-deadly-protests-crackdown/33662357.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:43:13 +0100 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories