https://www.rferl.org/z/660 RFE/RL's latest news, features, commentary, and multimedia content on Iran. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/660 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:41:59 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As regional security tensions continue to mount amid the protracted conflict between Iran and the US, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey came together on August 7 to sign a joint defense agreement in order to "strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression." https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-turkey-pakistan-defense-agreement-iran-war/33824220.html https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-turkey-pakistan-defense-agreement-iran-war/33824220.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:42:03 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories For much of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian officials arrived in Washington seeking weapons, ammunition, and financial support. Last week, however, the message was markedly different as Kyiv looked to be more a partner than a beggar. https://www.rferl.org/a/senate-briefing-ukrainian-commanders-drone-war-lessons-us-iran/33824145.html https://www.rferl.org/a/senate-briefing-ukrainian-commanders-drone-war-lessons-us-iran/33824145.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:47:18 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories As the conflict in the Persian Gulf continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-live-blog-trump-middle-east/33803414.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-live-blog-trump-middle-east/33803414.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories A bipartisan coalition in the US Senate is working to keep momentum behind a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia and Iran, with lawmakers from both parties arguing that the legislation would send a broader message about American resolve against authoritarian powers. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-vote-war/33822958.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-vote-war/33822958.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:34:10 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Prominent imprisoned political activist Mostafa Tajzadeh has issued a statement calling on Iranian authorities to "immediately end" executions warning that the accelerated pace of hangings risks pushing the country toward internal conflict and what he called the "Libyanization" of Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajzadeh-iran-executions-end/33821603.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajzadeh-iran-executions-end/33821603.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:05:26 +0200 Human RightsNewsIranThe Rundown Stories The growing strategic partnership between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea is a defining security challenge facing the US and its allies. Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery speaks to RFE/RL about says the West continues to underestimate both the scale of this alignment and the risks it poses. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-china-ukraine-north-korea-montgomery/33821449.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-china-ukraine-north-korea-montgomery/33821449.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 08:43:00 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of US Central Command, tells RFE/RL that Iran is playing for time as it draws out talks to end the war with the United States. https://www.rferl.org/a/robert-harward-iran-us-talks/33820999.html https://www.rferl.org/a/robert-harward-iran-us-talks/33820999.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:37:01 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Iran has hanged two men accused of spying for Israel as the Islamic republic’s execution spree since the start of the war with the United States and Israel shows no signs of slowing down. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execute-behzad-safvat-israel-spy/33820765.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execute-behzad-safvat-israel-spy/33820765.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:31:28 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump said he has decided to "hold off" on any new attacks on Iran, saying "the perimeters" of a deal have been agreed to with Tehran and adding that Israel was joining him in the commitment. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-trump-attacks-hormuz/33820139.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-trump-attacks-hormuz/33820139.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:37:57 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East A renewed exchange of military strikes and threats between the US and Iran has raised fresh fears of a wider Middle East war. But Jacob Stoil, research professor of Middle East security studies at the US Army War College, argues the more important story may be what has not happened. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-stoil-army-war-college-interview/33819707.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-stoil-army-war-college-interview/33819707.html Sat, 01 Aug 2026 10:25:00 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Former Trump White House official Allison Minor says Iran's latest attacks exposed the limits of the traditional US security guarantee in the Gulf. She argues Washington should shift toward a regional security model built on shared capabilities, integration, and stronger partnerships. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-gulf-security-us-role-allison-minor-interview/33818576.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-gulf-security-us-role-allison-minor-interview/33818576.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:08:49 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East A day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Senate, lawmakers overwhelmingly advanced legislation to tighten sanctions on Russia and extend key Iran sanctions for another five years. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-senate-advances-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-bipartisan-support/33818432.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-senate-advances-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-bipartisan-support/33818432.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:00:39 +0200 News AnalysisIranUkraineThe Rundown Stories The US military said it launched dozens of strikes against targets linked to Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in response to Iranian attacks on American troops in Jordan after President Donald Trump had vowed to retaliate and "hit them very hard." https://www.rferl.org/a/us-strikes-target-iran-revolutionary-guards-corps/33818316.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-strikes-target-iran-revolutionary-guards-corps/33818316.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:59:30 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces carried out a "heavy wave" of strikes against Iranian targets in what it described as a response to Tehran's attempted missile attacks on US forces in the Gulf. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strike-heavy-gulf-jordan-egypt-centcom-drone-missile-qeshm/33818282.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strike-heavy-gulf-jordan-egypt-centcom-drone-missile-qeshm/33818282.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:43:00 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos The emerging partnerships between Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries are also reshaping the region's security dynamics, which analysts believe may add new strains to relations among states. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-security-dynamics-middle-east-pakistan/33816861.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-security-dynamics-middle-east-pakistan/33816861.html Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:22:51 +0200 News AnalysisIranPakistanThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East In what appeared to be the first time Tehran initiated an attack against US targets since the war in the Persian Gulf began in late February, Iran fired ballistic missiles at American bases in Jordan late on July 28. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-jordan-jordan-trump-war/33817712.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-jordan-jordan-trump-war/33817712.html Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:14:48 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline As the US Senate prepared to vote on a sweeping bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia and Iran, Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said the measure reflects renewed bipartisan resolve to squeeze the Kremlin war machine and reinforce support for Ukraine.  https://www.rferl.org/a/us-senate-whitehouse-sanctions-russia-iran/33816935.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-senate-whitehouse-sanctions-russia-iran/33816935.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:22:21 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Russia and Iran's expanding partnership in drones, intelligence, sanctions evasion and internal security is increasingly linking the conflicts in Ukraine and the Persian Gulf, says Nicole Grajewski, an expert on Russian-Iranian relations. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-iran-partnership-ukraine-persian-gulf-nicole-grajewski/33816737.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-iran-partnership-ukraine-persian-gulf-nicole-grajewski/33816737.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:36:50 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories Russia’s Iranian-designed drones have ravaged Ukrainian forces in Moscow’s all-out war. As far as Ukraine is concerned, that means cargo ships plying the Caspian Sea with Iranian military goods are fair game. Including this past weekend. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-iran-caspian-strikes-ships/33816728.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-iran-caspian-strikes-ships/33816728.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:31:36 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Videos posted on social media appeared to show crowds of protesters gathering in the Iranian city of Isfahan on July 28 to demonstrate as state executions of two men took place. With more executions feared, the videos show groups of people chanting "Without honor!" amid a heavy security presence. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-isfahan-protests-demonstration-execution-prison-human-rights/33816596.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-isfahan-protests-demonstration-execution-prison-human-rights/33816596.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:41:05 +0200 Human RightsIranVideo ArchiveVideos