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What Is HAYI, The Shadowy Islamist Group Claiming Attacks Across Europe?

Why Hopes That China Can Push Iran Toward Peace May Be Misplaced

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.
US Lawmaker Wilson Flags Western Chips Still Flowing Into Russian, Iranian Drones

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.
Russian Influencers Turn From Cosmetics To Politics, But Don't Mention The War

Russian influencer Victoria Bonya made a personal address to Russian President Vladimir Putin: In a country where political debate and criticism of the authorities is tightly controlled, she brought up problems people face in their everyday lives. Except the war in Ukraine.
Iran Thinks It's Winning. That View Is Guiding Its War And Diplomacy.

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.
Amid Iran War Talks, China Tests Its Clout In Pakistan-Taliban Conflict

Beijing-brokered meetings ease tensions on paper, but deep disputes over militancy and cross-border attacks threaten to derail the fragile progress.
No More Waivers: Ukrainian Sanctions Czar Vlasiuk Praises US Decision To End Relief For Russian Oil

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.
Torture, Beatings, Rape: Inside The Sadism Of A Russian Artillery Brigade

Beatings, torture, rape, not to mention corruption, are commonplace in the Russain armed forces. Artyom Bykov’s ordeal as a contact soldier with the 273rd Artillery Brigade provides a small window into a system of institutionalized violence.
Azeem Ibrahim: Iran Conflict Will Be Decided By Who Can 'Endure The Most'

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.
Knives Out 2.0. What's Going On At Russia's Defense Ministry?

In its war on Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry is on the offensive in the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Internally, it’s plagued by corruption, political infighting, firings, and bitter rivalries with outside security agencies.
Why Hezbollah Is 'Central' To Iran's Leverage In War And Peace Talks

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?
Wider Europe Briefing: What Now For NATO?

This week, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak drills down on one issue: What will happen with NATO after a few tough weeks
Delays And Rising Costs: Central Asia Feels Fallout From Iran War

As expected, the launching of US and Israeli air strikes on Iran -- and retaliatory strikes by Tehran on targets in the Mideast -- has hit the economies of the region. But the shockwaves are arguably being felt just as much in Central Asian nations who rely on goods flowing through Iran.
Max Meizlish: How The US Navy And Economic Sanctions Aim To Squeeze Tehran

RFE/RL spoke with Max Meizlish, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former official at the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, on the intersection of naval blockades and financial warfare as Washington halts traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
What To Know About The US Naval Blockade Of Iran

A US blockade on ships entering Iranian ports and coastal areas has taken effect, following failed peace talks between the US and Iran. And it already poses a dilemma: risk attack from Iranian assets near the Strait of Hormuz or hold back and hope to catch vessels breaking out into the open seas.
The Air Strikes Have Paused, But Iranians Worry About What Comes Next

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.

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