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Iran
Houthis portray steadfast support for Iran, reportedly consider Red Sea toll
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Israel at War
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by 3 weeks
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Lebanon and Israel to resume direct talks in Washington
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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.
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
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
Richard Goldberg
Senior Advisor
- Iran
- Palestinian Politics
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Gulf States
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- International Organizations
RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery
CCTI Senior Director and Senior Fellow
Elaine K. Dezenski
CEFP Senior Director and Head
Bradley Bowman
CMPP Senior Director
Miad Maleki
Senior Fellow
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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.”
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Former President
Overnight Brief: April 24, 2026
Read Full BriefToday In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
- Today at 8:30am (ET): "FDD Morning Brief," FDD Event
- "Total Iran Economic Damage Estimate," FDD Visual
- "Why Trump’s Iran cease-fire is an increasingly risky bet," New York Post
- "Finish the job: Why a half war with Iran is the most dangerous outcome," Fox News
- "America’s Cyber Strategy Has a Budget Problem," The Cipher Brief
- "Turkey Is the Weak Link in Trump’s Economic War on Iran," National Review
- "Implementing Cybercom 2.0 Should Not Postpone Establishing a Cyber Force," Lawfare
- "Evaluating the Economic Damage to Iran From Operation Epic Fury: An Initial Estimate," FDD Insight
- "Trump Administration Requests Extraordinary $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget," FDD Policy Brief
- "Taiwan Looks To Lock In New Arms Deal With America Amid Defense Spending Debate," FDD Policy Brief
- "U.S. Forces Interdict Vessel in Indian Ocean Transporting Oil From Iran," FDD Flash Brief
- "Europe Approves 90 Billion Euro Interest-Free Loan to Ukraine," FDD Flash Brief
The Must-Reads
- Israel and Lebanon extend ceasefire for three weeks, Trump says
- Israel prepared to renew Iran war, awaiting 'green light' from Trump, Katz says
- An Iranian ship tried to slip past the blockade. A U.S. destroyer chased it down.
- Iran fast-boat swarms add to Hormuz threats for shipping
- Trump says US will not use nuclear weapon in Iran war
- Retired U.S. Army major Mike Lyons: The Iran war marks the end of ‘escalation management’
- The Free Press’s Eli Lake: Why Trump’s Iran deal is not like Obama's Iran deal
- Blood diamonds, crypto: Hezbollah’s financial operations in Europe serve as major terror lifeline
- Chinese satellites over Mideast battlefield put U.S. on edge
- U.S. seeks to reset ties with reclusive but strategically vital African state
- Trump intends to invite Putin to G-20 summit in Miami, officials say
- Iran war complicates contingency plans to defend Taiwan, some U.S. officials say