https://www.rferl.org/z/23310 The main story of the day from RFE/RL Central Newsroom. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/23310 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:05:38 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL 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 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 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 What’s the latest brick in Russia’s effort to build its Great Internet Firewall? A proposal to create a government-run Virtual Private Network, co-opting a tool that has been widely embraced by Russians trying to avoid government censorship. Industry insiders are reportedly unimpressed. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-tech-internet-vpn-super-app-digital/33777612.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-tech-internet-vpn-super-app-digital/33777612.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:36:41 +0200 RussiaFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline The US House of Representatives has passed legislation requiring the administration to produce a detailed assessment of Russian and Chinese intelligence activities in Georgia https://www.rferl.org/a/us-house-passes-georgia-bill-targeting-russian-chinese-influence-amid-deepening-rift-with-tbilisi/33776729.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-house-passes-georgia-bill-targeting-russian-chinese-influence-amid-deepening-rift-with-tbilisi/33776729.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:25:16 +0200 GeorgiaNewsRussiaThe Rundown HeadlineChina Victory for Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in parliamentary elections marks a firm slap down of Russian efforts to derail his pro-Western policy moves, although failure to win a two-thirds majority in parliament will complicate the ongoing US-brokered peace process with Azerbaijan. https://www.rferl.org/a/pashinian-armenia-victory-election-russia-rejection/33775876.html https://www.rferl.org/a/pashinian-armenia-victory-election-russia-rejection/33775876.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:38 +0200 News AnalysisArmeniaAzerbaijanRussiaThe Rundown Headline The ruling Civil Contract party of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has taken a big lead in a crucial parliamentary election, gaining 51.4 percent of the vote as initial ballots are counted. https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-election-parliament-pashinian-russia-eu/33774157.html https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-election-parliament-pashinian-russia-eu/33774157.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 06:00:51 +0200 NewsArmeniaAzerbaijanRussiaThe Rundown Headline Kazakhstan has offered to host Iran's enriched uranium in order to streamline a potential peace deal between Tehran and Washington. The offer comes more than 30 years after a massive haul of weapons-grade uranium was taken out of the Central Asian country and flown to the US. https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-iran-project-sapphire-enriched-uranium/33773568.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-iran-project-sapphire-enriched-uranium/33773568.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:06:22 +0200 Photo GalleriesFeaturesIranKazakhstanPicksThe Rundown Headline 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 As Russia struggles to replace soldiers being killed in high numbers in the fifth year of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, these is mounting evidence of the military returning men to the war despite severe injuries and, sometimes, medical findings saying they are not fit for further service. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-casualties-wounded-return/33771000.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-casualties-wounded-return/33771000.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:56:45 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Families sharing single meals. Appliances sold to pay utility bills. Businesses gutted. Four Iranians inside the country describe an economy in freefall. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-economy-us-war-sanctions/33771852.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-economy-us-war-sanctions/33771852.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:43:53 +0200 IranFeaturesEconomyThe Rundown Headline A large-scale overnight Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv killed at least four people and injured dozens, including children, Ukrainian officials said. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drone-and-missile-attack-kyiv-ukraine/33770716.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drone-and-missile-attack-kyiv-ukraine/33770716.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:55:33 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline 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 NewsIranThe Rundown Headline US President Donald Trump said Iran had provided guarantees that it would not develop nuclear weapons, as he asserted Washington was nearing a "very good deal" to end the three-month-old war with Tehran. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-ceasefire-framework-hesgeth-uranium/33769107.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-ceasefire-framework-hesgeth-uranium/33769107.html Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:58 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline Ukraine says that its forces carried out a large-scale overnight drone assault targeting military and infrastructure sites inside Russia and Russian-occupied territory. https://www.rferl.org/a/zelensky-warns-massive-attack-missile-drone-strike/33768994.html https://www.rferl.org/a/zelensky-warns-massive-attack-missile-drone-strike/33768994.html Sat, 30 May 2026 13:44:09 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Romania has accused Russia of a "serious and irresponsible escalation" after a drone hit a high-rise building inside Romanian territory near the border with Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drone-strikes-ukraine-border-romania/33768083.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drone-strikes-ukraine-border-romania/33768083.html Fri, 29 May 2026 08:01:37 +0200 NewsRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Iran and the United States launched fresh strikes on targets in the Persian Gulf region highlighting a precarious cease-fire amid a diplomatic push to reach a compromise deal to end their three-month old war. https://www.rferl.org/a/gulf-strikes-highlight-fragile-iran-us-cease-fire/33767403.html https://www.rferl.org/a/gulf-strikes-highlight-fragile-iran-us-cease-fire/33767403.html Thu, 28 May 2026 11:16:49 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline 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 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Dramatic images of glowing projectiles streaking down from space on May 24 marked the latest combat use of Russia's Oreshnik missile against Ukraine. Here is how the missile works, and why some of its payloads don't explode. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-missile-oreshnik-kinetic-strike-war-invasion/33766001.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-missile-oreshnik-kinetic-strike-war-invasion/33766001.html Tue, 26 May 2026 18:45:56 +0200 FeaturesRussiaUkrainePicksRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline A senior Iranian official says Tehran has imported Chinese equipment to support a “permanent” internet shutdown, as the country’s unprecedented blackout enters its third month. Experts say Iran's censorship model is cheaper than the Chinese version and easier to replicate for other states. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-internet-blackout-censorship-tool/33764398.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-internet-blackout-censorship-tool/33764398.html Mon, 25 May 2026 17:21:36 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineNews Analysis