https://www.rferl.org/z/23310 The main story of the day from RFE/RL Central Newsroom. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/23310 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:37:52 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL 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 The Czech Republic demanded an explanation after Russia’s Defense Ministry published a list of companies it claimed are helping produce attack drones for Ukraine and bellicose former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called it “a list of potential targets” for the Russian military. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drones-europe-czech-threat-medvedev/33733898.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drones-europe-czech-threat-medvedev/33733898.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:46:22 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline 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 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 US President Donald Trump suggested that talks with Iran could resume in a day or two, while the US military said that no ships slipped through a naval blockade targeting vessels headed to or from Iranian ports in the first 24 hours of the restrictive measure. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-blockade-iran-ships-transit-hormuz/33731994.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-blockade-iran-ships-transit-hormuz/33731994.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:32:22 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East After nearly six weeks of war, air strikes on Iran have paused, but uncertainty remains. As they brace for what may come next, Tehran residents describe anxiety on the streets of the Iranian capital amid rising prices, job losses, and an ongoing Internet blackout. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ceasefire-after-war-residents-fear-future/33731253.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ceasefire-after-war-residents-fear-future/33731253.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:26:32 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Marathon talks aimed at halting the war in Iran ended without a breakthrough, as US Vice President JD Vance flew back to the United States amid major questions what comes next for the 43-day-old conflict. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-vance-iran-peace-talks-pakistan/33730441.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-vance-iran-peace-talks-pakistan/33730441.html Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:14:54 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Hackers connected to Russia’s military intelligence agency snuck into thousands Internet routers used in homes and offices worldwide and secretly monitored e-mail traffic and website logons and passwords for months, authorities said. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-hacker-routers-gru-military-intelligence-forest-blizzard/33728527.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-hacker-routers-gru-military-intelligence-forest-blizzard/33728527.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:56:02 +0200 NewsRussiaThe Rundown Headline Pakistan appears to have achieved a significant diplomatic breakthrough by playing a proactive role in brokering a 14-day cease-fire and setting the stage for the US-Iran talks in Islamabad on February 10. https://www.rferl.org/a/how-pakistan-bolstered-its-diplomatic-image-by-brokering-a-cease-fire/33727687.html https://www.rferl.org/a/how-pakistan-bolstered-its-diplomatic-image-by-brokering-a-cease-fire/33727687.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:48:04 +0200 FeaturesNewsIranPakistanThe Rundown Headline 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 US President Donald Trump repeated his threat to strike Iranian infrastructure hard on if Tehran it does not open the Strait of Hormuz, using explosive language hours after announcing that US forces rescued the second crew member of a downed F-15 fighter jet in a high-risk mission. https://www.rferl.org/a/crew-member-f15-rescued-/33725134.html https://www.rferl.org/a/crew-member-f15-rescued-/33725134.html Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:18:10 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline Days after the film ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ Won an Oscar for best documentary, a Russian court banned it, and prosecutors labeled its director a “foreign agent.” What does he think about it? “You couldn’t dream up a better advertising campaign." https://www.rferl.org/a/pavel-talankin-mr-nobody-film-putin-interview/33723253.html https://www.rferl.org/a/pavel-talankin-mr-nobody-film-putin-interview/33723253.html Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:32:21 +0200 FeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline In a non-descript warehouse on the perimeters of a Munich-area airport, a joint venture is marrying Ukrainian expertise with German capital, building drones for Ukraine’s military – and eventually global markets. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-germany-drone-production/33723276.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-germany-drone-production/33723276.html Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:56:53 +0200 FeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline As Russia faces a manpower shortage in 2026, reports surface of intoxicated men increasingly being tricked into signing military contracts at local enlistment offices. https://www.rferl.org/a/drunk-sign-here-russia-recruits-intoxicated-men-as-military-manpower-crisis-peaks/33722376.html https://www.rferl.org/a/drunk-sign-here-russia-recruits-intoxicated-men-as-military-manpower-crisis-peaks/33722376.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:20:18 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline It's not just oil and gas. Iran’s shipping blockade is also holding up supplies of other key commodities and causing price spikes on global markets that will affect everyone. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hormuz-blockade-chokes-global-trade-oil-gas-trump/33722449.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hormuz-blockade-chokes-global-trade-oil-gas-trump/33722449.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:18:02 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Iran announced the execution of two political prisoners on March 31, a day after the death penalty was also carried out on two others, in a sign that the clerical authorities are stepping up a crackdown on internal opposition in the country. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-executions-repression/33721498.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-executions-repression/33721498.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:03:42 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East President Donald Trump has renewed his warning to Tehran to reach a deal to end the war soon and also to open the Strait of Hormuz or he will order air strikes with the aim of "completely obliterating" Iran's oil export hub of Kharg Island, oil wells, and power plants. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-warning-iran-deal-energy-attacks/33719920.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-warning-iran-deal-energy-attacks/33719920.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:11:22 +0200 IranNewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Yemen's Houthis have entered the Iran war, raising fears of a twin chokepoint crisis. But analysts say the missile attack may have been less a shot at Israel than a warning to Gulf Arab states, especially the Saudis, not to deepen their involvement in the conflict. https://www.rferl.org/a/houthis-attack-israel-iran-war-energy-crisis/33718713.html https://www.rferl.org/a/houthis-attack-israel-iran-war-energy-crisis/33718713.html Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:53:03 +0100 IranThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle EastNews Analysis US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will now meet in Beijing in mid-May for a rescheduled summit. Dennis Wilder, a former China adviser to former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, explains how the war in Iran is affecting ties between Beijing and Washington. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-war-trump-xi-summit-venezuela-cuba-dennis-wilder/33717993.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-war-trump-xi-summit-venezuela-cuba-dennis-wilder/33717993.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:16:28 +0100 ChinaFeaturesIranThe Rundown HeadlineThe Rundown Stories