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 06:30:23 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL The United States has deployed a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East, significantly boosting its capabilities, despite a cease-fire with Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strait-of-hormuz-blockade/33744467.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strait-of-hormuz-blockade/33744467.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:19:03 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline 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 Despite suffering significant losses, Iran believes it is winning the war against the United States and Israel. That view is shaping Tehran’s conduct in the conflict and its demands in peace talks. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-victory/33733726.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-victory/33733726.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:29:02 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Iran has sentenced four more protesters, including a woman, to death over mass demonstrations in January, according to two human rights groups. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-january-executions/33732949.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-january-executions/33732949.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:22:57 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Iran is firing several dozen missiles at targets across the Middle East, down from hundreds in the first days of the war. But experts say Tehran’s hit rate is increasing. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ballistic-missiles-us-israel/33721304.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ballistic-missiles-us-israel/33721304.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:03:42 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesNews Analysis US allies in the Persian Gulf have borne the brunt of Iran’s retaliation to the US-Israeli bombing campaign of the Islamic republic. Now, they are considering whether to directly enter the fight against Tehran. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-gulf-saudiarabia-uae/33717022.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-gulf-saudiarabia-uae/33717022.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:50:02 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US President Donald Trump claimed that negotiations have been held with Iran over ending the war in the Middle East. But it is unclear whether this was a sign of a breakthrough or an attempt to buy time. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-israel-qalibaf/33714538.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-israel-qalibaf/33714538.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:50:56 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories The US-Israeli war with Iran has dragged in neighboring Iraq, where pro-Iranian militias have launched almost daily attacks on US targets in the country, triggering retaliatory American strikes. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-iraq-islamic-resistance-pmf-militias/33710902.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-iraq-islamic-resistance-pmf-militias/33710902.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:36:17 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline The Bab al-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen -- a key global trade route -- could become the new flashpoint in the US-Israeli war on Iran, experts say. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-huthis-yemen-bab-al-mandab/33708102.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-huthis-yemen-bab-al-mandab/33708102.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:49:01 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The United States and Israel have targeted economic and civilian infrastructure in Iran in recent days, a new escalation in the war, experts say. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-oil-civilian-infrastructure-israel-us/33703028.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-oil-civilian-infrastructure-israel-us/33703028.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:05:12 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran has activated a decentralized defense strategy after the United States and Israel launched an air campaign against Tehran and killed senior military leaders. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-israel-us-war/33697690.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-israel-us-war/33697690.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 11:16:46 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The United States is considering supplying weapons to Iranian Kurdish groups based in neighboring Iraq, according to reports. The move comes as the United States and Israel wage an aerial bombardment of Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-kurds-iraq/33695118.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-kurds-iraq/33695118.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:08:48 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East The US-Israel war on Iran has expanded across the entire Middle East and impacted global energy supplies and prices. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-regional-hezbollah-huthis/33693186.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-regional-hezbollah-huthis/33693186.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:33:04 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Israel’s assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a major setback for the country’s clerical rulers. But regime change is not guaranteed, experts say. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-khamenei-larijani-successor-ayatollah/33691390.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-khamenei-larijani-successor-ayatollah/33691390.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:49:30 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Pakistan launched a wave of attacks on Afghanistan on February 27, in the most serious escalation between the countries since the Taliban seized power in 2021. https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-pakistan-taliban-ttp-war/33689781.html https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-pakistan-taliban-ttp-war/33689781.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:53:18 +0100 FeaturesAfghanistanPakistanThe Rundown Headline Iran’s so-called axis of resistance, its regional network of armed proxies and allied militant groups, could come to the fray to provide additional firepower to Tehran in the event of a conflict with the United States, experts say. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-hezbollah-iraq-huthis/33666970.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-hezbollah-iraq-huthis/33666970.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:31:28 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Iran would be unable to repel a possible US air attack but has the capability to retaliate against US military and commercial interests in the region, experts said. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-strikes-war/33662293.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-strikes-war/33662293.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:42:18 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline The Pakistani Army has set a January 25 deadline for the evacuation of Tirah, a valley of some 150,000 people. The strategic area is located along the border with Afghanistan and is a stronghold of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan extremist group. https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-ttp-taliban-afghanistan/33657799.html https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-ttp-taliban-afghanistan/33657799.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:42:12 +0100 PakistanFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords, a hallmark achievement of Trump’s first term in office. The move puts Kazakhstan at the center of a new push by the White House to reinvigorate the foreign policy initiative. https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-abraham-accords-russia-china/33583991.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-abraham-accords-russia-china/33583991.html Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:41:48 +0100 KazakhstanFeaturesThe Rundown Stories The Taliban’s hard-line government in Afghanistan is making major inroads in garnering legitimacy abroad. Despite its extremist policies, the international community has accepted that the Islamist group is here to stay, say experts. https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-afghanistan-recognition-pakistan/33569437.html https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-afghanistan-recognition-pakistan/33569437.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:33:20 +0200 AfghanistanFeaturesPakistanThe Rundown Stories