FDD: Pro-Israel Think Tank Influencing US Iran Policy Under Trump

The Trump administration has adopted talking points from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) regarding the US-Israel war on Iran. Last week, the White House’s official rapid response account on X posted a graphic from FDD alongside text claiming that Tehran’s uranium enrichment accelerated due to the loosening of sanctions under former President Joe Biden.

Iran’s uranium enrichment was capped at 3.67 percent under the 2015 nuclear deal signed under President Barack Obama, below the 90 percent required to make weapons. The acceleration occurred after President Donald Trump withdrew from the landmark deal in 2018.

FDD is a pro-Israel think tank that has been influential in shaping US policy on Iran. Its experts frequently appear on major US news networks and are often introduced as nonpartisan analysts. FDD’s website states that it accepts no funding from foreign governments, but its name and institutional legitimacy have raised questions about its impartiality.

A former senior official from FDD Action, the organisation’s lobbying arm, has joined Trump’s Iran negotiating team. Nick Stewart was appointed to the Office of the Special Envoy for Peace Missions, reportedly adding him to the US negotiating team engaging with Iran alongside envoy Steve Witkoff.

Stewart previously served as managing director of advocacy at FDD Action, where he advocated for a more aggressive posture towards Iran, including military pressure. He also worked at the Department of State in the first Trump administration. Federal lobbying disclosures show FDD Action spent $150,000 lobbying the US government on issues related to Iran sanctions legislation and US arms sales to Israel.

The appointment of Stewart has raised questions about Washington’s ability to pursue negotiations independently, particularly as pro-Israel advocacy networks gain influence inside Trump’s foreign policy circle.

Source: Al Jazeera