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 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:35:47 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Iran's powerful parliament speaker said there was "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 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories 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 As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog-trump-khamenei/33640284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog-trump-khamenei/33640284.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:05:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories The United States has again temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil, issuing a new waiver that allows certain shipments already at sea to be delivered and sold, even as Washington publicly insists it is maintaining pressure on the Kremlin. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-oil-sanctions-waiver-treasury-iran/33735009.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-oil-sanctions-waiver-treasury-iran/33735009.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:12:42 +0200 RussiaNewsIranThe Rundown Stories Hopes that shipping would resume through the Strait of Hormuz proved short-lived on April 18, as Iranian forces attacked at least three civilian ships after Tehran announced it was reversing its decision to reopen the vital waterway. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ceasefire-negotiations-iran-hormuz-pakistan/33734753.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ceasefire-negotiations-iran-hormuz-pakistan/33734753.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:38:13 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline In an interview with RFE/RL on April 17, Ryan Kirkley, CEO of blockchain payments company Global Settlement Network, explained the worldwide economic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, why markets are moving at varying paces, and why oil prices may already be turning. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-hormuz-oil-bitcoin-economy-markets/33734697.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-hormuz-oil-bitcoin-economy-markets/33734697.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:47:50 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories A little-known Islamist group has claimed a string of attacks on Jewish sites and Western financial institutions across Europe since early March. https://www.rferl.org/a/hayi-iran-attacks-europe-jewish-centers/33734573.html https://www.rferl.org/a/hayi-iran-attacks-europe-jewish-centers/33734573.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:07:16 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesEurope Iran said it has opened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping traffic for the reamiiner of a 10-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, and US President Donald Trump again suggested that Washington and Tehran could reach a deal to end the US-Israeli war with Iran in the near future. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-israel-lebanon-hormuz/33734636.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-israel-lebanon-hormuz/33734636.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:33:06 +0200 NewsIranMiddle East China is Iran’s most important ally, but it lacks the full diplomatic and economic leverage to force Tehran to make concessions, according to experts who spoke to RFE/RL. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-trump-xi-oil-middle-east-peace-cease-fire-talks/33734488.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-trump-xi-oil-middle-east-peace-cease-fire-talks/33734488.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:38:43 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina A senior Republican lawmaker has raised concerns over continued US-origin components appearing in Russian weapon systems amid Ukrainian reports that recent drone strikes show evidence of Western microelectronics manufactured as recently as 2025. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmaker-wilson-flags-western-chips-russian-iranian-drones/33734451.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmaker-wilson-flags-western-chips-russian-iranian-drones/33734451.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:58:52 +0200 IranNewsFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Prayers for peace, cease-fires, and an ongoing energy crisis dominated the seventh week of the conflict in the Middle East. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-war-week-seven-photos/33734337.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-war-week-seven-photos/33734337.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:41:21 +0200 Photo GalleriesIranPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories 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 US President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran are "very close" to a deal to end the war and that US and Iranian negotiators could meet for a second round of talks this coming weekend. https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-lebanon-leadership-talks-peace/33733502.html https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-lebanon-leadership-talks-peace/33733502.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:28:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Beijing-brokered meetings ease tensions on paper, but deep disputes over militancy and cross-border attacks threaten to derail the fragile progress. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-pakistan-afghanistan-border-war-diplomacy-urumqi-iran/33733560.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-pakistan-afghanistan-border-war-diplomacy-urumqi-iran/33733560.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:09:02 +0200 ChinaFeaturesAfghanistanIranPakistanThe Rundown Stories Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's commissioner for sanctions policy, told RFE/RL in an interview that any relief for Moscow and Russian oil only serves to extend the war. https://www.rferl.org/a/waivers-russia-oil-us-sanctions-ukraine/33733519.html https://www.rferl.org/a/waivers-russia-oil-us-sanctions-ukraine/33733519.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:25:47 +0200 IranFeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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 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 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 Azeem Ibrahim, a longtime Middle East observer, tells RFE/RL that the Strait of Hormuz is increasingly becoming more than just a chokepoint for oil, describing it as a space where economic pressure, military risk, and geopolitical ambition converge. https://www.rferl.org/a/azeem-ibrahim-iran-conflict-will-be-decided-by-who-can-endure-the-most/33732700.html https://www.rferl.org/a/azeem-ibrahim-iran-conflict-will-be-decided-by-who-can-endure-the-most/33732700.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:27:36 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran has made an end to Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah a key demand in any peace deal with the United States. Why is the Lebanese militant group so important to Tehran? https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hezbollah-strategy-cease-fire/33732041.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hezbollah-strategy-cease-fire/33732041.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:16:33 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranThe Rundown Stories