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, 02 May 2026 03:18:03 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Iran supplies about 90 percent of the world's saffron. But since Iranian authorities shut down Internet access at the start of the war two months ago, growers have been cut off from their usual clients in Europe and China. That has meant a windfall for Afghan saffron dealers. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-saffron-farming-internet-shutdown-afghanistan/33747226.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-saffron-farming-internet-shutdown-afghanistan/33747226.html Fri, 01 May 2026 20:03:54 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced strong support for Iran in its conflict with the United States as he greeted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi for talks in St Petersburg on April 27. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-iran-strategic-relationship-araqchi-russia/33743629.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-iran-strategic-relationship-araqchi-russia/33743629.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:31:22 +0200 NewsIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories More than a week after the United States announced a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to put pressure on Tehran to reach a peace deal, analysts say the effects are mixed. Iran's oil exports are being affected but are also still being sold in Asia, one expert says. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strait-hormuz-blockade-war-persian-gulf-israel-oil-cease-fire-ship-irgc/33742855.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strait-hormuz-blockade-war-persian-gulf-israel-oil-cease-fire-ship-irgc/33742855.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:57:37 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos Speaking with RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Mansoureh Shojaee, an Iranian women’s rights activist based in the Netherlands, says the regime is coercing women into "revenge-driven" militancy amid war with the United States and Israel. https://www.rferl.org/a/why-is-iran-parading-pink-weapons-to-coerce-women-into-militancy-says-rights-expert/33736526.html https://www.rferl.org/a/why-is-iran-parading-pink-weapons-to-coerce-women-into-militancy-says-rights-expert/33736526.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:51:49 +0200 VideosIranVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories The prospects for a new round of face-to-face peace talks between the United States and Iran remained unclear amid confusion over the US negotiators' plans and uncertainty over whether Tehran would agree to take part. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-cargo-ship-seized-pakistan-ceasefire-negotiations/33735754.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-cargo-ship-seized-pakistan-ceasefire-negotiations/33735754.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:01:14 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran's powerful parliament speaker said there has been "progress" in talks with Washington but that "fundamental" differences remain, while US President Donald Trump rejected what he called "blackmail" by Tehran after it again closed the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-qalibaf-negotiations-trump-blackmail-hormuz/33735255.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-qalibaf-negotiations-trump-blackmail-hormuz/33735255.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:39:50 +0200 IranNews The brother of jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that her life is "in serious danger" following a heart attack she suffered in prison last month. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nobel-peace-prize-jailed-narges-mohammadi/33735225.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nobel-peace-prize-jailed-narges-mohammadi/33735225.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:13:23 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Stories Iranian officials are set on April 16 to meet with Pakistani mediators to discuss new US proposals and decide on a possible second round of talks a day after US President Donald Trump asserted that the end of the war could come “very soon.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-negotiations-pakistan-trump-ceasefire/33733113.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-negotiations-pakistan-trump-ceasefire/33733113.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:16:41 +0200 IranNewsPakistanThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could be over "very soon," and Pakistan's powerful army chief visited Tehran in a bid to bridge the gap between the United States and Iran and pave the way for a new round of talks. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-peace-talks-iran-blockade-china-russia/33732708.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-peace-talks-iran-blockade-china-russia/33732708.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:48:04 +0200 IranNewsRussiaThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle EastChina A US blockade on ships entering Iranian ports and coastal areas has taken effect, following failed peace talks between the US and Iran. And it already poses a dilemma: risk attack from Iranian assets near the Strait of Hormuz or hold back and hope to catch vessels breaking out into the open seas. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-naval-blockade-iran/33731316.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-naval-blockade-iran/33731316.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:02:17 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories US Vice President JD Vance has departed Washington for Islamabad for their first peace talks of the war in what could be the most consequential diplomatic encounter between the United States and Iran in over four decades. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-hormuz-iran-islamabad-toll-lebanon/33728800.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-hormuz-iran-islamabad-toll-lebanon/33728800.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:44:43 +0200 IranNewsPakistanThe Rundown Stories Amid the fragile two-week cease-fire deal agreed between the United States and Iran, a Tehran resident sent a message to RFE/RL's Radio Farda describing a city suddenly free from the sound of bombs. He said even during the devastation of war, Iranians try to hold on to hope. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-hope-farda-economy-war-us-israel-civilian/33728444.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-hope-farda-economy-war-us-israel-civilian/33728444.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:18:16 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos Israeli and Lebanese representatives will meet in Washington next week, a State Department official said hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for talks with Lebanon. https://www.rferl.org/a/ceasefire-iran-war-pakistan-negotiations-trump-lebanon/33727932.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ceasefire-iran-war-pakistan-negotiations-trump-lebanon/33727932.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:09:49 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Iranians have expressed relief but also concern after the United States and Iran announced a deal to suspend hostilities for two weeks. Some Iranians say they expect challenging days ahead -- but they also want their own government to restore basic rights and release political prisoners. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-us-israel-ceasefire-war-civilian-rights-infrastructure-prisoners/33727899.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-us-israel-ceasefire-war-civilian-rights-infrastructure-prisoners/33727899.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:20:15 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories The temporary truce between the United States and Iran wobbled less than a day after being agreed as Israel launched massive attacks on Iranian proxies in Lebanon, while Tehran launched strikes at oil centers in several Persian Gulf countries after claiming its energy facilities were targeted. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-ceasefire-holding-strait-hormuz-shipping/33727626.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-ceasefire-holding-strait-hormuz-shipping/33727626.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:41:39 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US-Israeli strikes continued to hit Iran on April 7 as it faces a deadline to reach a deal to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy "every power plant" and bridge in the country if Tehran doesn't reach an agreement by 8 p.m. US Eastern Time. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-deadline-threat-strike-retaliation-hormuz-war-agreement/33726752.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-deadline-threat-strike-retaliation-hormuz-war-agreement/33726752.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:39:58 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos Hours before a US deadline for Iran to reach a deal or face intense attacks on power plants and other infrastructure, Pakistan urged President Donald Trump to give Tehran two more weeks to allow the two sides to reach a peace settlement. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-trump-deadline-power-plant/33726600.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-trump-deadline-power-plant/33726600.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:03:24 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Iran has reportedly conveyed a 10-point response to US proposals for ending the war to Pakistan, rejecting a temporary cease-fire and demanding a permanent end to hostilities as US President Donald Trump's deadline for massive strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure entered its final hours. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-us-deadline-iran-open-strait-hormuz/33725369.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-us-deadline-iran-open-strait-hormuz/33725369.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:09:54 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline Rescue teams continue to search early on April 4 for a US crew member missing after their fighter jet was brought down over Iran, one of two American forces planes reportedly knocked out of the sky in the region a day earlier. https://www.rferl.org/a/rescue-operation-us-jet-downed-iran/33724346.html https://www.rferl.org/a/rescue-operation-us-jet-downed-iran/33724346.html Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:02:08 +0200 IranNews Smoke was seen around the airport in the Iranian city of Mashhad as US-Israeli strikes continued. Iran pledged new attacks on Israel, releasing footage they said showed rocket launches against Haifa. The latest exchange of strikes followed US President Donald Trump's TV address to the nation. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-us-strike-missile-isfahan-centcom-mashhad-airport-trump-rocket/33723365.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-us-strike-missile-isfahan-centcom-mashhad-airport-trump-rocket/33723365.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:40:29 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories