https://www.rferl.org/z/23337 RFE/RL's latest news, features, commentary, and multimedia content on Lebanon, Israel, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iraq. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/23337 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:11:28 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL US President Donald Trump said a framework agreement to be signed with Iran this week makes it "loud and clear" that Tehran will not develop or acquire nuclear weapons as the two sides try to move toward ending their war. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-deal-iran-nuclear-weapons/33782189.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-deal-iran-nuclear-weapons/33782189.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:38:48 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Iranians say they have been warned by security officials not to speak to US-funded Persian-language media, such as RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, amid a crackdown in which the Iranian authorities say they have charged increasing numbers with espionage for “cooperation with the enemy.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:32:46 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The United States and Iran have electronically signed a framework deal to end the three-month-long war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, senior US administration officials said on June 15. 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 HeadlineMiddle 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 Matt Reisener, senior national-security adviser at the Center for Maritime Strategy, talks to RFE/RL about why diplomacy and military pressure are likely to continue, what Iran and the United States each believes it has to gain from talks, and why any agreement may actually hinge on Israel. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-israel-us-maritime-security-reisener/33778403.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-israel-us-maritime-security-reisener/33778403.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:50:35 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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 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 Iran has declared a halt to strikes against Israel, framing the pause as a completed operation. The move came shortly after US President Donald Trump, whom analysts say is keen on a peace deal with Iran, posted on social media that both sides were seeking an immediate cease-fire. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-attacks-pause-trump-deal/33775868.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-attacks-pause-trump-deal/33775868.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:53:06 +0200 News AnalysisIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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 IranMiddle East The Israeli military said its forces targeted Iranian regime sites early on June 8 in retaliation for Tehran's latest attacks on Israel and shortly after US President Donald Trump said he would tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to conduct such strikes. https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-attack-trump-netanyahu-ceasefire-retaliation/33775004.html https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-attack-trump-netanyahu-ceasefire-retaliation/33775004.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 03:52:50 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East RFE/RL spoke with Lisa Gable, a former US ambassador who served during the George W. Bush administration and is now the chairwoman of World In 2050, about the prospects for diplomacy with Iran, the challenges of verification, and the broader geopolitical stakes of the current conflict. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-negotiations-promises-ambassador-lisa-gable/33773278.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-negotiations-promises-ambassador-lisa-gable/33773278.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:47:38 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East From Ukraine to Tehran, asymmetric warfare is redefining the modern battlefield. Superiority is no longer measured solely by jets and naval fleets, but by inexpensive unmanned drones. https://www.rferl.org/a/drones-iran-ukraine-russia-houthis-hezbollah/33772693.html https://www.rferl.org/a/drones-iran-ukraine-russia-houthis-hezbollah/33772693.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:52:16 +0200 IranFeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East US President Donald Trump said the United States will win the conflict with Iran either “militarily or on paper,” referring to the fitful negotiations with Tehran, and he suggested he could meet with Iran’s reclusive supreme leader “if it was to make a deal.” https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-peace-negotiations-supreme-leader/33772840.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-peace-negotiations-supreme-leader/33772840.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:42 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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 VideosIranVideo ArchiveThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East RFE/RL spoke with Jake Sotiriadis, an adviser to the US State Department, about whether these developments could signal the beginning of a diplomatic off-ramp between Washington and Tehran or merely a pause in a confrontation that still carries a significant risk of escalation. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-congress-war-sotiriadis/33772490.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-congress-war-sotiriadis/33772490.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:02:43 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The US House of Representatives approved a war powers resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's military campaign against Iran, delivering a bipartisan rebuke to the administration even as Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that US operations against Tehran had ended. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-house-bipartisan-support-iran-war-/33772320.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-house-bipartisan-support-iran-war-/33772320.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:19:18 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The United States and Iran exchanged missile and drone attacks as a fragile cease-fire hangs in the balance amid uncertainty in stalled peace talks. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-united-states-drone-attacks-kuwait-peace-talks/33771717.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-united-states-drone-attacks-kuwait-peace-talks/33771717.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:39:52 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Diplomatic efforts to contain the widening Middle East crisis entered a critical phase this week as US officials sought to keep alive negotiations with Iran amid mounting tensions. RFE/RL spoke with Dania Arayssi, program head and senior analyst at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy. https://www.rferl.org/a/can-diplomacy-survive-analyst-dania-arayssi-on-iran-hezbollah-and-the-struggle-for-a-deal/33771631.html https://www.rferl.org/a/can-diplomacy-survive-analyst-dania-arayssi-on-iran-hezbollah-and-the-struggle-for-a-deal/33771631.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:34:49 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East As Washington and Tehran edge toward a preliminary peace deal, renewed fighting in Lebanon has cast uncertainty over the diplomatic track. https://www.rferl.org/a/former-senior-trump-nsc-official-says-diplomacy-alive-as-us-iran-battle-for-leverage/33770891.html https://www.rferl.org/a/former-senior-trump-nsc-official-says-diplomacy-alive-as-us-iran-battle-for-leverage/33770891.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:41:12 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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. https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-iran-fiber-optic-drones-russia-ukraine-war/33761841.html https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-iran-fiber-optic-drones-russia-ukraine-war/33761841.html Thu, 21 May 2026 20:28:57 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East