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 Wed, 13 May 2026 22:16:38 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL The war and its global ripple effects are a through line influencing many of the issues that the two leaders will discuss in Beijing, from rare earth minerals to Taiwan. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-xi-meeting-taiwan/33756180.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-xi-meeting-taiwan/33756180.html Wed, 13 May 2026 18:34:43 +0200 VideosIranThe Rundown StoriesChina The conflict involving Iran is revealing new lessons about how artificial intelligence is being weaponized in modern warfare and statecraft. https://www.rferl.org/a/lego-hip-hop-deepfakes-iran-ai-propaganda/33756098.html https://www.rferl.org/a/lego-hip-hop-deepfakes-iran-ai-propaganda/33756098.html Wed, 13 May 2026 17:14:34 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Power has become increasingly decentralized in Iran following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the selection of his son as the new supreme leader. So, who holds power in the Islamic republic now? https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-khamenei-qalibaf/33756085.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-khamenei-qalibaf/33756085.html Wed, 13 May 2026 16:37:57 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran is proposing to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a digital chokepoint threatening to charge, regulate, or potentially sabotage the undersea cables that carry a significant share of global internet traffic. https://www.rferl.org/a/33755937.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33755937.html Wed, 13 May 2026 14:53:45 +0200 VideosIran Trade tensions, Taiwan, and rare earth exports are expected to dominate talks, even as the war in Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz raise the stakes for the Beijing summit. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-taiwan-energy-oil-minerals/33756013.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-taiwan-energy-oil-minerals/33756013.html Wed, 13 May 2026 14:43:15 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown HeadlineChina Iranian women have been disproportionately affected by the Internet blackout that authorities have imposed since the war broke out. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-blackout-women-brunt-labor-market/33755949.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-blackout-women-brunt-labor-market/33755949.html Wed, 13 May 2026 13:25:12 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories As the US-Israeli war with Iran 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-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:30:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline 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 In an interview with RFE/RL, Ken Moriyasu, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, says Beijing may tactically help ease tensions between Washington and Tehran, but will resist any effort that could threaten the survival of Iran’s regime. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-regime-survival-iran-moriyasu-trump-xi-summit/33755145.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-regime-survival-iran-moriyasu-trump-xi-summit/33755145.html Tue, 12 May 2026 12:49:55 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina The two leaders are expected to negotiate over rare earth exports and economic tensions while navigating growing friction over Tehran and security in Asia. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-trade-rare-earths-minerals-taiwan/33755104.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-trade-rare-earths-minerals-taiwan/33755104.html Tue, 12 May 2026 11:30:28 +0200 ChinaFeaturesIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories The latest exchange between Washington and Tehran over a proposed path toward de-escalation has raised new questions about what comes next in the growing crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-talks-markets-diplomacy/33754690.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-talks-markets-diplomacy/33754690.html Tue, 12 May 2026 01:08:04 +0200 News AnalysisIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iranian outlets with ties to the IRGC have floated the idea that Tehran assert control over undersea fiber-optic cables running under the Strait of Hormuz. Experts say the proposal has little legal merit but warn that Iranian sabotage remains a threat. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-undersea-cable-hormuz-toll-internet/33754408.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-undersea-cable-hormuz-toll-internet/33754408.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:49:50 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Former senior US diplomat Gordon Gray, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs under President George W. Bush, says indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are likely to continue despite what he described as significant pain and pressure on both sides. https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html Mon, 11 May 2026 09:52:53 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US President Donald Trump described the cease-fire with Iran as being on "life support," adding he is considering restarting naval escorts -- dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom -- through the Strait of Hormuz amid a continuing a deadlock over how to bring the conflict to an end. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Iranian media said Tehran has sent its response to the latest US peace proposal, but the country's officials have maintained belligerent stance toward the United States. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-rubio-irgc-war-negotiations/33753414.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-rubio-irgc-war-negotiations/33753414.html Sun, 10 May 2026 01:30:02 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Iran blamed the United States for a recent escalation of skirmishes in the Persian Gulf as Washington awaits a response from Tehran over the latest proposal to end their war. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-peace-proposal-response/33752830.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-peace-proposal-response/33752830.html Sat, 09 May 2026 14:57:25 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to steady ties with Italy and the Vatican during a visit to Rome shaped by disputes over Iran, NATO, and migration. He also defended Washington’s military posture in the Middle East and warned Tehran against trying to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-rome-vatican-iran-hormuz-ukraine-nato-troops/33752859.html https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-rome-vatican-iran-hormuz-ukraine-nato-troops/33752859.html Fri, 08 May 2026 18:52:11 +0200 IranNews In an interview with RFE/RL, Barry Pavel, a former senior director for defense policy and strategy at the National Security Council, who served as a special assistant to the president under George W. Bush, unpacks the strategic meaning behind recent developments in the US war with Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/pavel-interview-security-iran-ceasefire-war/33751442.html https://www.rferl.org/a/pavel-interview-security-iran-ceasefire-war/33751442.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:53:39 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Iran said it was reviewing the latest US proposal that sources say would end the fighting but leave several key issues open, as US President Donald Trump claimed a deal was “very possible” but also warned of renewed fighting if Tehran rejected the deal. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-proposal-trump-ceasefire-hormuz/33751441.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-proposal-trump-ceasefire-hormuz/33751441.html Thu, 07 May 2026 01:31:41 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories A French shipping ⁠group has confirmed that one of ⁠its vessels was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-ship-strait-of-hormuz/33751343.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-ship-strait-of-hormuz/33751343.html Wed, 06 May 2026 17:59:28 +0200 VideosIran