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March 12, 2026
12:00 pm
EVENT: Between Ally and Adversary: Turkey’s Strategic Calculus in the Iran War
As the war involving Iran reshapes the strategic landscape of the Middle East, Turkey finds itself navigating one of the most complex geopolitical dilemmas in its modern history. Sharing a long border with Iran and balancing its role as a NATO member with its regional ambitions, Ankara is attempting to manage the fallout of a conflict that could dramatically alter the balance of power across the region. Turkish leaders have condemned U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran while simultaneously warning Tehran against expanding the conflict, reflecting a delicate strategy of hedging between competing interests.
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Mark Dubowitz
Chief Executive
- Iran Sanctions
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- Syria
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- Iran
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Hezbollah
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- Cyber
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Jonathan Schanzer
Executive Director
- Palestinian Politics
- Iran
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Hezbollah
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- Jihadism
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Behnam Ben Taleblu
Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow
- Iran
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Missiles
- Iran Human Rights
- Iran Politics and Economy
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery
CCTI Senior Director and Senior Fellow
Richard Goldberg
Senior Advisor
- Iran
- Palestinian Politics
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Gulf States
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- International Organizations
Andrea Stricker
Nonproliferation Program Deputy Director and Research Fellow
Reuel Marc Gerecht
Resident Scholar
- Iran
- Iran Politics and Economy
- Turkey
- Arab Politics
- Egypt
Janatan Sayeh
Research Analyst
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Tsai Ing-wen
Former President of Taiwan
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Overnight Brief: March 25, 2026
Read Full BriefToday In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
- Today at 8:30am (ET): "FDD Morning Brief," FDD Event
- "Iran’s shakedown in the strait," Washington Examiner
- "Turkey’s Mission to Put an End to the Iran War," Real Clear World
- "Trump Must Hold The Line On The Cuba Oil Embargo," The Daily Wire
- "Russian Abduction of Ukrainian Children is Part of Effort To Erase Ukrainian Identity," FDD Policy Brief
- "In Major Reversal, Taiwan Seeks To Rewire Its Energy Strategy by Restarting its Nuclear Plants," FDD Policy Brief
- "Iran and proxies continue attacking regional airports, energy facilities, military bases, and residential areas (March 20-23 updates)," FDD's Long War Journal
- "6 Kurdistan Regional Government soldiers killed in Iranian attack on northern Iraq," FDD's Long War Journal
- "Lebanon Declares Iranian Ambassador Persona Non Grata," FDD Flash Brief
The Must-Reads
- Israel hits Russian-Iranian weapons smuggling route in the Caspian sea
- Plan to disarm Hamas in Gaza is detailed at U.N.
- United States said to have sent Iran a plan to end the Middle East war
- Iran says ‘non-hostile’ ships can sail through the Strait of Hormuz
- WSJ Editorial: The fog of diplomacy in Iran
- WSJ Editorial: Iran’s missile shots at Diego Garcia
- Lebanon expels Iranian envoy as rift with Tehran deepens
- Israel plans to control large parts of southern Lebanon, Defense Minister says
- Belarusian President Lukashenko to make visit to North Korea
- Taiwan says US has 'high' urgency in speeding up weapons deliveries
- Taliban releases American Dennis Coyle after more than a year of detention
- Russian oil shipment puts focus on Kremlin spy outpost in Cuba