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 Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:58:24 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Iran launched ballistic missiles at northern Israel on June 7, describing the attack as retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Israel responded with a "large-scale strike" on Iran's strategic defense systems. US President Donald Trump urged both sides to avoid further escalation. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-exchange-fresh-strikes/33775841.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-exchange-fresh-strikes/33775841.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:55:51 +0200 Iran More than three months into Iran's conflict with the United States and Israel, Iranians inside the country say they are increasingly desperate about meeting basic needs. Some say they're down to one meal a day, meat is rare, and household appliances are sold off to pay utility bills that have tripled. Some Iranians have sent voice messages to RFE/RL's Radio Farda recounting the deepening economic hardship amid a tense cease-fire with the United States and Israel. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-economy-crisis-inflation-us-israel-war-unemployment-internet-irgc/33772766.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-economy-crisis-inflation-us-israel-war-unemployment-internet-irgc/33772766.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:06:01 +0200 Iran Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority released images of an Iranian drone attack on the country's international airport that took place on June 3. Kuwait says one person was killed and more than 60 were injured in the attack. https://www.rferl.org/a/kuwait-iran-drone-airport-attack/33772477.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kuwait-iran-drone-airport-attack/33772477.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:06:53 +0200 Videos Two more men have been executed in Iran in connection with the January protests with human rights groups condemning growing repression in the country. Iran's judiciary announced on June 1 that the men were hanged after being convicted of attacking a mosque. More than 40 people have now been executed in Iran since the start of the war with the United States and Israel. An Iranian man was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for simply shooting video of protests that first erupted in... 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 Iran 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 News 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. Even as the total blackout ended on May 27, Iranians inside and outside the country described slow connections and difficulty reaching friends and family. 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 Iran 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 Iran Iranian monarchist groups are voicing anger over reports that FIFA intends to ban the so-called Lion and Sun flag, often carried as a symbol of resistance to the theocratic rule that took over the country in 1979. Called a "political" symbol by the soccer association and thus not officially allowed at matches, the Lion and Sun is still likely to be flown at World Cup matches, its defiant proponents say. 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 Iran 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 Iran 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. The Iranian regime's "Janfada," or self-sacrifice, program has also involved organized displays of children and women learning to assemble assault rifles while the conflict drags into its third month. 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 Iran 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 Iran 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 Iran 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. That imagery has sparked outrage among fellow exiles and is complicating the position of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the shah, who hopes to return to power if the current theocratic rule in Iran should crumble. 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 Iran 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 Iran 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 Iran