FDD is a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
FDD does not accept donations from any foreign governments.
Subscribe to FDD
Receive FDD's latest research and analysis
Trending Issues
Iran
Iran Revives Threat to Withdraw From Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Flash Brief
Iran’s ‘real nuclear weapon is their control’ of the Strait of Hormuz
CTV News
Israel at War
Contra Pope Leo, Catholic Just War Doctrine Supports Iran Strikes
Providence Magazine
Why Israelis are still running for shelter after most of Iran’s missiles capacity was ‘functionally destroyed’
Jewish Insider
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.
Featured Experts
Clifford D. May
Founder & President
- Iran
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Jihadism
- The Long War
- Palestinian Politics
- North Korea
- Russia
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- International Organizations
Mark Dubowitz
Chief Executive
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Human Rights
- Syria
- Iran Missiles
- Iran
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Hezbollah
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- Cyber
- Iran Nuclear
Jonathan Schanzer
Executive Director
- Palestinian Politics
- Iran
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Hezbollah
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Turkey
- Jihadism
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
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
Elaine K. Dezenski
CEFP Senior Director and Head
Bradley Bowman
CMPP Senior Director
What they're saying
"Mr. Dubowitz’s campaign to draw attention to what he saw as the Iran nuclear deal's flaws has taken its place among the most consequential ever undertaken by a Washington think tank leader."
New York Times
“The Foundation for Defense of Democracies understands as well as anyone that we are now in an era, once again, of Great Power Competition, primarily with the Chinese Communist Party.”
Marco Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor
"I would like to express my appreciation to the FDD for its long-term focus on Taiwan and for continuing to increase the attention paid to Taiwan’s defense and social resilience."
Lai Ching-te
President of Taiwan
“FDD is highly influential in the area of public policy … I would like to thank FDD for publishing numerous articles advocating for international support of Taiwan.”
Tsai Ing-wen
Former President of Taiwan
“Thank you for all of FDD’s work… it is so critical to our fight in the United States against terror and against those who seek to do us harm” … “[FDD has always] held Iran accountable for their continued nuclear activity and for their continued terror activity….which is key to America’s national security and our fight globally against terror, against Iran and its proxies, and against Hezbollah and Hamas and Palestinian Jihad.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
“What FDD puts out [in] the national and international conversation, … you really are … a repository of knowledge on so many critical issues.”
Mike Waltz
"Thank you to FDD…for the many, many years of great work that you’ve done. I've known the organization and relied on its expertise long before this conversation today."
Jessica Lewis
Former Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State
"I will tell you that FDD has been such a partner. Whether it is dealing with the Iran deal and the flaws that were in it, all the way to human shields and all the things that we need to do to combat it, you've been a partner in a time where we need partners. And so I appreciate that very much."
Amb. Nikki R. Haley
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations
“Nobody makes the case better than FDD that the Islamic Republic is a threat to the region, its own people and the U.S., and that it needs to be dealt with, not wished away.”
Wall Street Journal
Weekend Interview
“I would add my own thanks to the FDD and the Center on Military and Political Power for … showing how important it is that we are talking, both on the military and the civilian side, about the importance of being prepared to protect and advance our national security objectives. That's exactly the kind of conversations that we're seeking to help our European allies and partners have with their citizenry. Thank you.”
Amb. Kate Marie Byrnes
Civilian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor, U.S. European Command
"A record low for the reach of petrodollars: CIA & FDD fake news w/ selective AlQaeda docs re: Iran can't whitewash role of US allies in 9/11"
Javad Zarif
Iran's Former Foreign Minister
FDD's Long War Journal [is] the best source of public information on terrorism.
Michael Morell
former Acting and Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency
“The Foundation is making a difference across the world.”
George W. Bush
Former President
Overnight Brief: March 30, 2026
Read Full BriefToday In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
- Today at 8:30am (ET): "FDD Morning Brief," FDD Event
- "Back from the Front," FDD's Foreign Podicy
- "The Iran war has given Trump his best hand against China — now he shouldn’t fold," New York Post
- "Iran Is Using Its Citizens As Human Shields," The Daily Wire
- "Has Iran-backed terrorism reached London?" The Spectator
- "As Chinese Robotics Industry Surges, Senate Considers Limited Federal Procurement Ban," FDD Policy Brief
- "Houston, Americans Are Headed Back to the Moon," FDD Policy Brief
- "Iranian Cyber Operations Take Advantage of Weakened U.S. Defenses," FDD Policy Brief
- "Israel Aims To Bolster Domestic Munitions Production," FDD Policy Brief
- "Turkish intelligence chief hosts Hamas leaders in Istanbul," FDD's Long War Journal
- "Israel continues operations against Hamas in Gaza, diplomats push for disarmament as shaky ceasefire continues," FDD's Long War Journal
- "US-Israeli strikes continue as talks over Strait of Hormuz stall and Iran intensifies internal crackdown," FDD's Long War Journal
- "Russia reportedly sending Iran drones for use against the US and Israel," FDD's Long War Journal
- "Iran Blocks 2 Chinese Vessels From Transiting Strait of Hormuz," FDD Flash Brief
- "Iran-Backed Houthis Launch Missile at Southern Israel," FDD Flash Brief
The Must-Reads
- Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen attack Israel for first time in war
- JPost Editorial: Israel’s manpower crisis: IDF Chief’s warning, a wake-up call for Israeli leaders
- Trump weighs military operation to extract Iran’s uranium
- Iran’s missile infrastructure severely strained after weeks of strikes
- Former British Royal Navy officer Alexander Wooley: Reopen the Strait of Hormuz? There’s one big problem
- Why Russia is stepping up its support for an embattled Iran
- Israel's Netanyahu orders expansion of southern Lebanon operations to halt Hezbollah rockets
- Iran’s envoy to remain in Lebanon in defiance of expulsion by Beirut
- Zelensky tours bombarded Mideast in search of new rich allies
- China sanctions aide of Japan PM Takaichi for Taiwan trips
- How Pakistan wooed Trump and styled itself as a peace broker in Iran conflict
- U.S. will let Russian oil tanker reach Cuba, breaking Trump’s effective fuel blockade