https://www.rferl.org/z/645 The latest news from RFE/RL's broadcast region. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/645 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:48:52 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:20:46 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories The UNESCO-protected Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine's most important Orthodox monastery, was set ablaze during a massive overnight missile and drone barrage that killed at least 11 people and injured dozens across the country. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-trump-putin-zelenskyy-kyiv-lavra/33780576.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-trump-putin-zelenskyy-kyiv-lavra/33780576.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:46:06 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump said a framework agreement has been reached to halt fighting in the Middle East, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and end the US blockade of Iranian ports. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-peace-agreement-pakistan-israel-lebanon/33780270.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-peace-agreement-pakistan-israel-lebanon/33780270.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 01:40:12 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Qatari negotiators flew to Tehran early on June 14 in a bid to finalize an agreement between the United States and Iran to end the monthslong conflict, but renewed Israeli attacks on Iran's ally Hezbollah in Lebanon earlier the same day could potentially delay the signature. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-qalibaf-trump-qatar/33780190.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-qalibaf-trump-qatar/33780190.html Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:25:55 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Russia and Ukraine continued to exchange air attacks on June 14, as indefinitely paused peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv appear to be overshadowed by developments on the battlefield. https://www.rferl.org/a/33780158.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33780158.html Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:38:21 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The European Union is preparing to host the Taliban in Brussels for the first time for "technical talks" on the repatriation of Afghans despite sharp criticism from rights groups and signs Afghanistan's rulers are cracking down further on women. https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-taliban-meeting-further-crackdown/33780057.html https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-taliban-meeting-further-crackdown/33780057.html Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:14:54 +0200 AfghanistanNewsFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesEurope Recent reports from Iran suggest that an intense crackdown on political opposition within the country that began during mass protests in January is continuing unabated. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-arrests-political-prisoners-protests/33780086.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-arrests-political-prisoners-protests/33780086.html Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:43:57 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories A social media post by Pakistan's prime minister set a 24-hour clock ticking on July 13 as he said a deal between Washington and Tehran was closer “than ever before.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-deal-conflicting-reports-fragile-cease-fire/33779736.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-deal-conflicting-reports-fragile-cease-fire/33779736.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:15:33 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline After more than three months of conflict that has shaken the Middle East, disrupted energy markets, and heightened concerns about regional stability, the United States and Iran appear to be moving closer to a possible peace agreement. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-ceasefire-pakistan-mediation/33779591.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-ceasefire-pakistan-mediation/33779591.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 02:31:06 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories A Russian woman who pleaded guilty to lying about her contacts with Russia's main intelligence agency -- and was later accused of sending drunken harassing messages to the FBI -- was sentenced to 14 months in prison. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-nomma-zarubina-espionage-foreign-agent/33779322.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-nomma-zarubina-espionage-foreign-agent/33779322.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:54:35 +0200 NewsRussiaThe Rundown Stories A senior US administration official has said the United States and Iran were “very close” to sealing a deal that would reopen a critical shipping route and dismantle Tehran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-trump-iran-deal-israel/33779306.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-trump-iran-deal-israel/33779306.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:45:57 +0200 IranNews European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that European Union member states have agreed to advance accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, boosting the countries' membership bids after two years of stalled progress. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-moldova-eu-membership/33779301.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-moldova-eu-membership/33779301.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:19:27 +0200 NewsMoldovaUkraineThe Rundown Stories The director of US National Intelligence (DNI) has released evidence that her office says shows "longstanding" United States government funding for more than 120 biolabs in over 30 countries where research on biological pathogens, some dangerous, is conducted. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-biolabs-ukraine-funding-evidence-gabbard-dni/33779274.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-biolabs-ukraine-funding-evidence-gabbard-dni/33779274.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:46:06 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The United Nations said it was “gravely concerned” by the arrests of at least 30 women in Afghanistan’s western city of Herat over the past week for allegedly violating a new dress code imposed by the Taliban government. https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-women-hijab-un/33779247.html https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-women-hijab-un/33779247.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:15:14 +0200 NewsAfghanistanThe Rundown Stories A Russian woman who pleaded guilty to lying about her contacts with Russia’s main intelligence agency -- and was later accused of sending drunken harassing messages to the FBI -- was set to be sentenced in a Manhattan federal court. https://www.rferl.org/a/zarubina-russia-woman-text-lying-fsb-fbi-drunk/33778254.html https://www.rferl.org/a/zarubina-russia-woman-text-lying-fsb-fbi-drunk/33778254.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:22:30 +0200 NewsRussiaThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump claimed that a “great settlement” has been reached with Iran to end the Middle East war and that the agreement could be signed as early as this weekend, perhaps in Europe, with the US vice president attending the session. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-strikes-trump-hormuz-escalation/33778143.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-strikes-trump-hormuz-escalation/33778143.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:46:59 +0200 IranNewsMiddle East US armed forces launched a second night of air strikes on Iran late on June 10, just hours after President Donald Trump warned Tehran it would be hit "very hard" if a deal aimed at ending more than three months of war is not finalized. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-us-air-strikes-iran/33777784.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-us-air-strikes-iran/33777784.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:16:03 +0200 IranNews Russia, China, and Iran are increasingly creating a strategic alliance of convenience that US policymakers must confront as it seeks to disrupt global order, according to a group of US experts and former officials. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-china-iran-cooperation-challenges/33777782.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-china-iran-cooperation-challenges/33777782.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:28:24 +0200 IranNewsNews Analysis The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation aimed at preventing American and allied technology from ending up in Iranian-made drones used in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-house-bill-western-technology-iranian-drones/33777736.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-house-bill-western-technology-iranian-drones/33777736.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:36:31 +0200 IranNewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories President Donald Trump said the ⁠United States is going to attack Iran “very hard” if a deal aimed at ending the three-month war is not finalized. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-war-negotiations/33777713.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-war-negotiations/33777713.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:15:58 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East