Michael Scollon is a senior correspondent in RFE/RL's Central Newsroom in Prague.
With both Russia and Iran coming under increased international sanctions for their actions in 2022, where can they turn to maintain trade? The answer: to each other and to smaller pariah states. But experts express skepticism about the strength of such a disparate bloc of the sanctioned.
Thousands of Afghan soldiers are living a desperate existence in Iran, where they sought refuge after the Taliban returned to power. Many say they have no choice but to put their fighting skills to work for a private Russian mercenary group that has sought to recruit them to join the war in Ukraine.
As the United States and Iran prepare to face off for a chance to reach the knockout stages of soccer's World Cup, the political gamesmanship is already in play.
The prospect of Russian forces replenishing their depleted aerial arsenal with powerful Iranian ballistic missiles has officials in Kyiv scrambling for more air cover.
Nika Shakarami, 16, left to join anti-government protests in Tehran on September 20. She was never seen alive by her family again. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Nika's mother says the family is now being pressured to echo the official account of her daughter's death.
The Taliban will import gasoline, diesel fuel, and wheat, making Russia one of the few countries willing to trade with Afghanistan's new rulers. While small, analysts say it fits with Russia's efforts to find new customers and could give it an inside track on access to Afghanistan's mineral wealth.
Iran and Russia have touted the use of cryptocurrencies to skirt punitive sanctions. But while Tehran recently raised eyebrows when it announced it used cryptocurrency to pay for some imports, sanctions experts say virtual currencies are not a digital safe place for illicit transactions.
The mass exodus of Afghan professionals since the Taliban takoever has depleted the skilled workforce that Afghanistan had steadily built up over two decades as it recovered from its last major "brain drain" brought on by war and insecurity.
As prominent cultural figures in Iran urge the authorities to stop using force against protesting civilians, Tehran is resorting to arrests and the activation of aged jail sentences in an attempt to silence them.
The Taliban continues to to crack down on domestic and foreign media through harassment, beatings, and the enforcement of haphazard rules imposed on journalists.
Thousands of influential Afghans have assembled in Kabul to discuss pressing national issues. But the "grand gathering of Islamic scholars” leaves out women and ethnic and religious minorities, falling far short of the inclusivity Afghans have been promised by the Taliban.
Iran has dramatically increased its execution of prisoners, reversing a five-year trend. But while the number of those being hanged is on the rise, there is no real correlation to more crime. Observers say it has more to do with the authorities sending a warning against dissent.
Iran is planning to manufacture airliners in an attempt to skirt U.S. sanctions and upgrade its decrepit fleet of passenger aircraft. But Iran has a tragic history when it comes to producing passenger planes, with the last attempt grounded by a lack of engineering expertise and a string of crashes.
Tehran has homed in on its drone technology as it looks to keep the security situation in Afghanistan in check and gain regional influence.
The Iranian government's decision to cut subsidies for imported wheat has led to high prices for food producers. And as the cost has been passed to consumers who are struggling to buy flour, bread, and other staples, lawmakers and regime loyalists are warning of social unrest.
Muslims have no right to convert to Christianity under Iranian law, and those who do risk arrest and long prison sentences. For members of the religious minority, many of whom have been forced to flee abroad in order to practice their faith, it is a matter of finding a #Place2Worship.
Tolo's sister television networks made their mark on the Afghan media scene with a diverse line-up of hard-hitting news and cutting-edge entertainment options. But as Afghans tune in on World Press Freedom Day, they won't be getting the full picture.
More than 80,000 at-risk Afghans were evacuated by the United States when the Taliban returned to power in Kabul, but roughly the same number have been left behind. With the world's attention turning to war in Europe, volunteer groups of U.S. veterans are working to get their Afghan partners out.
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