Features

• May 22, 2026

  Senior UAE Official To RFE/RL: Restart Of Iran War Would Be 'Catastrophic'

  RFE/RL interviewed Anwar Gargash, a senior official in the United Arab Emirates, about the prospects of a deal to end the Iran war.

• May 22, 2026

  PM Sharif Heads To China As Pakistan Steps Up Iran Mediation Efforts

  Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif begins a three-day visit to China on May 23 as tensions in the Middle East remain high. Analysts say Sharif is expected to push for renewed urgency in US-Iran negotiations.

• May 22, 2026

  Iranian State Media's Foster Child Story Lands Editor In Court -- Over A Head Scarf

  A state-approved photo story intended to celebrate motherhood and volunteerism became a political controversy in Iran because the images used showed a woman unveiled at home. The photos were deleted within hours and the state news agency’s boss was later summoned by the authorities.

• May 21, 2026

  'Unjammable' Drones Pioneered In Ukraine Emerge In Middle East War

  Some experts believe the recent emergence of fiber-optic drones piloted by Hezbollah militants indicates Russia is feeding Iran intelligence about drone warfare, others believe a more worrying potential is more likely.

• May 21, 2026

  Defying The US, Iran Is Cementing Its Control Over The Strait Of Hormuz

  Iran is cementing its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key international shipping route, 11 weeks after the start of the war with the United States and Israel.

• May 21, 2026

  Rubio Arrives In Sweden For NATO Meeting Amid US Troop Cuts

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Sweden for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers as European allies seek reassurances over US troop drawdowns and Washington's shifting rhetoric on the alliance.

• May 21, 2026

  Attacked By The State And Fractured Within, Belarus Opposition Struggles In Exile

  Poor turnout for an online election underscores the daunting challenges faced by the largely exiled Belarusian democratic opposition six years after a groundswell of popular protests raised hopes for change in a country ruled by authoritarian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko since 1994.

• May 20, 2026

  Afghan Migrants In Iran Face Growing Hardship Amid War Fallout

  As Iran struggles with the economic fallout from months of conflict, Afghan refugees and migrant workers in the Islamic republic say they are paying a disproportionate price.

• May 20, 2026

  On Springtime Battlefield In War's Fifth Year, Ukraine Claws Back Territory

  Four-plus years into Russia’s all-out invasion, Ukraine has battled Moscow’s forces to a standstill. In fact, by some accounts, Ukraine has even recaptured territory, offering Kyiv a glimmer of optimism after a grueling winter.

• May 20, 2026

  'Ambiguity Is Dangerous': Don Bacon Warns Strains In Western Alliance Could Benefit Russia, Iran, And China

  Republican Congressman Don Bacon warned that uncertainty over US commitments to NATO risks emboldening Russia, Iran, and China, arguing Washington must maintain strong alliances and military deterrence amid growing global instability.

• May 20, 2026

  As Trump Speaks Of Renewed Iran Strikes, Strategic Dilemma Remains

  Over two days, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect that the cease-fire with Iran will be broken by new US military strikes -- in comments that have drawn close scrutiny from analysts and policymakers.

• May 19, 2026

  As Trump Pauses Iran Attack, CSIS Analyst Mark Cancian Says US Searching For An 'Exit'

  RFE/RL, Mark Cancian, senior adviser with the Defense and Security Department at CSIS, told RFE/RL the US is focused on finding an "exit" from the crisis -- even as major disagreements remain over sanctions, nuclear restrictions, and Iran's claims over the Strait of Hormuz.

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