Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Listen to this: a mysterious radio message was caught on the first day of the US-Iran war. A man calmly reading random numbers in Persian. What is it? And who's behind it? By @Mike_Eckel

Beijing and Moscow are both close partners of Tehran. With the US-Israeli strikes approaching a third week and Iran retaliating across the region, the conflict is poised to possibly affect those ties, the broader roles Russia and China play in the Middle East, and their relations with Washington. rferl.org/a/iran-china-r…

Russians were trying to figure out what Ilya Remeslo’s motivation was in publicly ripping into Putin this week. A day later, he ended up in psychiatric hospital. @Mike_Eckel rferl.org/a/russia-blogg…

Israel's Haifa Oil Refinery Hit By Iranian Missile An oil refinery in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa was hit on March 19 after the country's military warned of missile launches from Iran, Israeli media reported. rferl.org/a/iran-protest…

Strikes that targeted the largest oil field on Earth, an area called South Pars that is shared by Qatar and Iran, may impact ordinary Iranians, say experts.

The US has lifted sanctions on several Belarusian entities and the country's Finance Ministry as Belarus announced the release of scores of prisoners -- including political detainees Kim Samusenko and journalist Ekaterina Andreeva. rferl.org/a/washington-s…

Despite powerful resistance and lengthy delays, a monument projected to become the “world’s largest” Jesus statue is taking shape near Yerevan with a newly scheduled completion date. rferl.org/a/worlds-large…

Russian President Vladimir Putin is getting even harder to find. rferl.org/a/putin-identi…

The South Pars gas field and complex was already struggling before the first bomb fell. rferl.org/a/iran-south-p…

Trump Warns Of Dire Consequences As Iran Hits Qatari Gas Hub Again rferl.org/a/iran-protest…

US Could Lift Sanctions On Iranian Oil On Tankers, Says Bessent US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington may soon lift sanctions on roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian oil stranded on tankers, aiming to boost global supply and ease prices amid disruptions caused by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. rferl.org/a/iran-protest…

A district court in Warsaw has approved a Ukrainian request to extradite Russian archaeologist Aleksandr Butyagin, a prominent scholar accused by Kyiv of illegally conducting excavations in annexed Crimea and damaging cultural heritage sites. rferl.org/a/poland-court…

A cache of messages, photos, and videos from Russian officer Roman Demurchiev, obtained by RFE/RL investigative units @cxemu and Systema, reveal how corruption works in Russia’s military and how he profited while commanding troops in Ukraine. 📹 Full investigation: youtube.com/watch?v=eCOxhC…

Afghans attended a mass funeral on March 18 for victims of an air strike that destroyed a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul. Afghan leaders say Pakistan attacked the hospital, but Pakistani leaders reject the charge, saying they only targeted a military installation as part of a campaign against terrorists in Afghanistan.

Iran will "boycott the United States" but still plans to compete in the upcoming soccer World Cup, the country's football federation chief, Mehdi Taj, said as uncertainty grows over the team’s participation amid the ongoing conflict.

The key Saudi ⁠port ⁠of ‌Yanbu has stopped oil loadings, two sources told Reuters on March 19, ‌after the Saudi Defense Ministry said it had intercepted a ballistic missile over the city. Yanbu is a critical export hub on the Red Sea and one of the main alternatives for Persian Gulf oil shipments since Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a route that normally carries about a fifth of global supply. #entry-shared" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">rferl.org/a/iran-protest…

Brent crude jumped 7 percent to pass $115 per barrel, while US crude briefly topped $100, after Iranian strikes hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas hub and followed threats to target more regional facilities. European gas prices spiked more than 30 percent. #entry-shared" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">rferl.org/a/iran-protest…

Shipping security monitoring group UKMTO reported early on March 19 that it had received information about a vessel being struck near Ras Laffan, Qatar's primary hub for liquefied natural gas production. "It has been reported to UKMTO that a vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile. All crew are reported safe and well."

Hours after Iran vowed to retaliate for the South Pars gas field attack, Qatar reported a fire at its main gas hub after an alleged Iranian missile attack. State giant QatarEnergy reported "extensive damage." rferl.org/a/iran-bushehr…