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 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:44:54 +0100 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Iranian officials went on the offensive on March 11 to knock down rumors over newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's state of health, saying he was injured in the air strikes that killed his father and other family members, but is "safe and sound." https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-health/33702161.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-health/33702161.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:23:36 +0100 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories As American and Israeli strikes continue to batter the Islamic republic, the idea of seizing Iran’s Kharg island has been debated in US political circles. https://www.rferl.org/a/kharg-island-iran-persian-gulf-us-seizure/33702075.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kharg-island-iran-persian-gulf-us-seizure/33702075.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:40:44 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Before-and-after satellite images show the scale of damage from US-Israeli strikes at multiple Iranian missile and aircraft facilities. The images showed significant damage to buildings and infrastructure in Khorgu and Kerman, as well as destroyed F-14 and F-7 aircraft at an Isfahan airbase. https://www.rferl.org/a/satellite-images-reveal-damage-at-iranian-facilities-after-us-israeli-air-strikes/33702142.html https://www.rferl.org/a/satellite-images-reveal-damage-at-iranian-facilities-after-us-israeli-air-strikes/33702142.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:36:32 +0100 Iran Speaking to RFE/RL in Tel Aviv, Raz Zimmt, head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies, said the question is whether Khamenei is capable of maintaining "daily contacts with the political and security establishment" to preserve "the ability of the regime to function." https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-mojtaba-khamenei-absence-raz-zimmt/33702088.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-mojtaba-khamenei-absence-raz-zimmt/33702088.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:09:33 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran has launched several waves of missiles at Israel, in one of the heaviest bombardments in recent days. But where is its new leader? https://www.rferl.org/a/video-israel-us-iran-war/33702014.html https://www.rferl.org/a/video-israel-us-iran-war/33702014.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:09:52 +0100 VideosIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran has seen 16 of its mine-laying ships attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command, which released footage of several strikes on the vessels. The ships were hit on March 10, US officials say, following warnings by US President Donald Trump to Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-strait-hormuz-mine-laying-ship-commercial-thai-projectile-trump/33702026.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-strait-hormuz-mine-laying-ship-commercial-thai-projectile-trump/33702026.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:30:39 +0100 IranVideo ArchiveVideos Three vessels were damaged in incidents across the Gulf's key maritime artery, which channels about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies, as Iran continued to launch air attacks in the Middle East. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-ships-middle-east-strait-hormuz/33701357.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-ships-middle-east-strait-hormuz/33701357.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:19:29 +0100 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East As the United States and Israel's conflict with Iran converges on the Strait of Hormuz, markets are reacting to rising risks of energy disruption. Analysts say the crisis is testing whether Iran can leverage global oil flows -- and whether Washington can prevent a supply shock. https://www.rferl.org/a/strait-hormuz-washington-safeguard-global-markets-iran/33701362.html https://www.rferl.org/a/strait-hormuz-washington-safeguard-global-markets-iran/33701362.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:37:27 +0100 IranNewsFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:30:00 +0100 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Kyiv and Moscow gave differing accounts of a Ukrainian strike on Russia's Bryansk border region, with the local governor saying six civilians were killed and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reporting a hit on a missile-component plant. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-missile-plant-war/33700795.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-missile-plant-war/33700795.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:45:03 +0100 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks of “historic” military cooperation with US forces striking Iran. But are the two allies entirely in lockstep? https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-war-aims/33700711.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-war-aims/33700711.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:27:16 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East After President Donald Trump remarked that US attacks on Iran may end "very soon," experts in Israel say their country's own campaign will likely follow Washington's lead. But as RFE/RL's Ray Furlong reports from Tel Aviv, Israel is pursuing its own security priorities with strikes in Lebanon. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-israel-lebanon-hezbollah-oil/33700720.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-israel-lebanon-hezbollah-oil/33700720.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:13:22 +0100 IranVideo ArchiveVideos A symbol with its origins in a 1954 convention on protecting cultural sites during war has been spotted on the rooftops of buildings in Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-israel-us-blue-shield-heritage-protection-photos/33700690.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-israel-us-blue-shield-heritage-protection-photos/33700690.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:54:44 +0100 IranFeaturesPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories The mysterious Persian-language transmission began about 12 hours after the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran. It was jammed five days later. Is it a coded message for US agents in Iran? Iranian sleeper cells? Israeli operatives? That’s what experts are trying to decipher. https://www.rferl.org/a/mystery-numbers-station-persian-signal-iran-war/33700659.html https://www.rferl.org/a/mystery-numbers-station-persian-signal-iran-war/33700659.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:54:09 +0100 IranFeaturesRussiaThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Russia has reportedly given Iran sophisticated targeting information and other intelligence to help Tehran target sensitive US facilities. Has Moscow crossed a red line for Washington? Probably not. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-iran-intelligence-sharing-war-us-israel/33700653.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-iran-intelligence-sharing-war-us-israel/33700653.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:30:29 +0100 FeaturesIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories Two more members of Iran's national women's soccer team have reportedly asked for asylum in Australia and failed to board a departing flight to Kuala Lumpur. Earlier, five team members were granted humanitarian visas in Australia over fears for their safety if they returned to Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-female-soccer-players-seek-asylum-as-team-plane-leaves-australia/33700705.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-female-soccer-players-seek-asylum-as-team-plane-leaves-australia/33700705.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:22:09 +0100 IranVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories The United States has designated Afghanistan a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” accusing the unrecognized Taliban government of holding American citizens as bargaining chips. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-designates-afghanistan-state-sponsor-wrongful-detention-taliban/33700635.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-designates-afghanistan-state-sponsor-wrongful-detention-taliban/33700635.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:17:22 +0100 NewsAfghanistanThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump will determine what constitutes "unconditional surrender" by Iran in the face of US-Israeli bombardment, the White House said on March 10, amid questions about how long the war may last. https://www.rferl.org/a/hegseth-strikes-iran-israel-war-trump/33700629.html https://www.rferl.org/a/hegseth-strikes-iran-israel-war-trump/33700629.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:52:08 +0100 NewsIranThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East US and Israeli forces continued to strike government targets in Iranian cities and military sites on March 10 as US defense chief Pete Hegseth warned new attacks will be the heaviest yet. Iran responded with its own strikes on nearby countries, including Bahrain. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-karaj-bahrain-us-israel-strikes-war-gulf-hegseth/33700606.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tehran-karaj-bahrain-us-israel-strikes-war-gulf-hegseth/33700606.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:34:49 +0100 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories In this week's newsletter, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak looks at how Hungary and Slovakia could threaten the EU's latest Russia sanctions renewal. https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-briefing-hungary-slovakia-toying-with-russia-sanctions-renewal/33700432.html https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-briefing-hungary-slovakia-toying-with-russia-sanctions-renewal/33700432.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:06:54 +0100 Wider EuropeFeaturesThe Rundown Stories