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 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 01:34:43 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Two more men have been executed in Iran in connection with the January protests with human rights groups condemning growing repression in the country. An Iranian man was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for simply shooting video of protests that first erupted in December 2025. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execution-protest-prisoners-human-rights-video-sentence/33770259.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execution-protest-prisoners-human-rights-video-sentence/33770259.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:42:38 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosHuman Rights The shaky video of the incident recalled the famous "Tank Man" protester on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, who single-handedly defied an armored column during pro-democracy protests in 1989 that were subsequently crushed by tanks. https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-tehran-tiananmen-moment/33770299.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-tehran-tiananmen-moment/33770299.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:03:37 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Headline Internet access in Iran has been partially restored after the government shut down communications at the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign in late February. Iranians told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that they had been unable to check on their loved ones' safety during months of deadly air strikes. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-restored-blackout/33767726.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-restored-blackout/33767726.html Thu, 28 May 2026 19:10:53 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideos After 88 days of a near-total Internet blackout, Iranians are slowly reconnecting, but to the same heavily censored, regulated network they had before. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-restrictions-shutdown/33766824.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-restrictions-shutdown/33766824.html Wed, 27 May 2026 16:34:32 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Iranian monarchist groups are voicing anger over reports that FIFA intends to ban the so-called Lion and Sun flag, often used as a symbol of resistance to the theocratic rule that took over the country in 1979. The soccer association says the flag is a "political" symbol and is therefore forbidden. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-opposition-flag-fifa-world-cup/33761265.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-opposition-flag-fifa-world-cup/33761265.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:46:37 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories The world soccer governing body FIFA reportedly plans to again prohibit fans from displaying Iran's pre-revolutionary flag at the 2026 World Cup, renewing a controversy that shadowed the tournament in Qatar four years ago. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fifa-lion-sun-flag-ban-world-cup/33761122.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fifa-lion-sun-flag-ban-world-cup/33761122.html Wed, 20 May 2026 17:13:23 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories The public spectacle of hundreds of couples marrying in Tehran surrounded by armored vehicles and antiaircraft guns on May 18 demonstrates a new level of patriotic messaging from the country amid a fragile cease-fire with the US and Israel. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-us-israel-war-wedding-irgc-janfada-self-sacrifice-ceasefire/33760330.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-us-israel-war-wedding-irgc-janfada-self-sacrifice-ceasefire/33760330.html Tue, 19 May 2026 17:31:37 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories An armed Iranian state TV presenter fired at a United Arab Emirates flag during a broadcast amid signs of growing public militarization in Iran. It came as US President Donald Trump issued threats of renewed attacks on Iran if it didn't reach a deal to end the nearly three-month-long conflict. https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-tv-presenter-fires-gun-at-uae-flag/33759595.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-tv-presenter-fires-gun-at-uae-flag/33759595.html Mon, 18 May 2026 18:49:01 +0200 Iran Iran's appointment of parliament speaker and chief US negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as special envoy for China signals Tehran is playing its most valuable political card on two fronts at once. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-qalibaf-envoy-china-us-talks/33759380.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-qalibaf-envoy-china-us-talks/33759380.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:13:28 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina Iran's publishing industry is staging a virtual book fair amid compounding wartime crises: physical damage to bookshops from US-Israeli strikes, an Internet blackout, and a paper shortage worsened by sanctions. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-book-fair-publishing-industry-war/33758285.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-book-fair-publishing-industry-war/33758285.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:55:37 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Some Iranians in exile who are advocating a return of the monarchy in Tehran have been displaying symbols associated with the notorious secret police, SAVAK, used by the former shah to repress political opponents before the Islamic Revolution in 1979. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-pahlavi-shah-savak-demonstrations-regensburg-manchester-copenhagen-1979-islamic-revolution/33757076.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-pahlavi-shah-savak-demonstrations-regensburg-manchester-copenhagen-1979-islamic-revolution/33757076.html Thu, 14 May 2026 19:03:47 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories Iran has executed at least 29 prisoners since the start of the war, including two on the same day on May 13, including a cybersecurity specialist hanged on espionage charges and a protester convicted of killing a security officer. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-executions-war-fear-human-rights/33756791.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-executions-war-fear-human-rights/33756791.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:47:13 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories The brother of imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi says doctors cannot yet offer a definitive prognosis on her condition, days after Iranian authorities released her on bail amid a health crisis that her family says nearly killed her. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-narges-mohammadi-hospital-tehran/33755284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-narges-mohammadi-hospital-tehran/33755284.html Tue, 12 May 2026 17:14:40 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump has warned Iran it will face "a much higher level and intensity" of strikes if it fails to agree to a peace deal that the two sides are reportedly closing in on. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-warns-strikes-iran-refuses-deal/33751227.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-warns-strikes-iran-refuses-deal/33751227.html Wed, 06 May 2026 15:37:44 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Iran announced the hanging of three more men on May 4 as a wave of executions continued amid the backdrop of Tehran's war with the United States and Israel. Before being hanged on the weekend, another two members of Iran's Kurdish minority issued audio statements from prison. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-prisoners-executions-protests/33749766.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-prisoners-executions-protests/33749766.html Tue, 05 May 2026 00:02:14 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been transferred to intensive care and is "on the brink of death," her brother Hamidreza Mohammadi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-nobel-laureate-narges-mohammadi-on-the-brink-of-death-health/33747642.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-nobel-laureate-narges-mohammadi-on-the-brink-of-death-health/33747642.html Sat, 02 May 2026 14:34:31 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline 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