FDD

For Iran, Hormuz Is More a Weakness Than a Weapon How a U.S. Blockade Threatens the Regime’s Grip @miadmaleki in @ForeignAffairs: foreignaffairs.com/iran/iran-horm…

The U.S. military can clear mines but not minds Though Tehran’s capabilities are being degraded, its theology persists @CliffordDMay in @WashTimes: fdd.org/analysis/2026/…

Foundation for Defense of Democracies' @rich_goldberg discusses the latest developments in the Iran war as the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains in effect: cnb.cx/4cGIlZL

Americans shouldn’t cry for Orban @PeterBDoran and @ivanastradner in @dcexaminer: fdd.org/analysis/2026/…

"Now that the Lebanese are entrusted with their own fate, they must also live up to the responsibility. The Lebanese state will have to deliver on the promises it made, principally to disarm Hezbollah and to sign a peace agreement with Israel." –@hahussain fdd.org/analysis/2026/…

There are rules against teachers using their positions of authority in the classroom to advance their own political agendas. What are they and how can we enforce them? Read my piece in the @Algemeiner! algemeiner.com/2026/04/14/to-…

Pleased to be quoted in the @WSJ The economic costs are hitting Tehran fast and hard: oil revenues have collapsed, #inflation is surging, and war damage is compounding an economy already on the brink. The blockade isn't just a military maneuver — it's a calculated economic squeeze on a regime with very little cushion left. My @FDD_CEFP colleague and I calculate that the costs of the war to Iran now exceed 40% of their pre-war GDP. 🔗:wsj.com/opinion/donald… #EconomicStatecraft

The Strait of Hormuz will likely prove to be Iran’s Achilles’ heel and undoing, not its secret weapon, writes former ⁦@USTreasury⁩ official and @FDD senior fellow @miadmaleki in ⁦@ForeignAffairs⁩ foreignaffairs.com/iran/iran-horm…

A new phase of the war is underway as the U.S. uses a naval blockade to restrict Iran’s oil exports and force progress in negotiations. Tune in to our conversation with @RyanBrobst_: wng.org/podcasts/econo…

Quoted by @nypost @CaitlinDoornbos: “Andrea Stricker, deputy director and research fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation Program, backed the president’s stance. ‘Even a two-decade suspension of enrichment would raise significant verification challenges and heighten the risk of Iranian cheating,’ she said. ‘Only Iran’s full, verified, and permanent nuclear disarmament — including elimination of its enrichment, reprocessing, and weaponization capabilities — carried out while Trump is in office, can ensure the regime will not restore a nuclear weapons option.’ Stricker added that Trump’s dissatisfaction with the proposal ‘should prompt his negotiators to return to Washington’s core demand: a permanent ban on Iranian enrichment.’”

Sometimes you have to zoom out or zoom in. Amid blockade and ceasefire talk, the regime’s war against its own people, even as it continues to fail as a state, should tell us all we need to know about the chances of regional peace. My 2 cents to @KatiePavlichNN on @NewsNation.

Americans shouldn't cry for Orbán 🇺🇸🇭🇺 Hungary’s corpulent Prime Minister lost touch and lost his way. Péter Magyar’s landslide victory is a win for Hungary, the United States, and smart, effective campaigning. Read my thoughtful piece with @FDD @ivanastradner in the @dcexaminer: washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-amer…

The Iran war is still unresolved on many fronts, from the kinetic battlefield to the economic blockade. On today's FDD Morning Brief, @JSchanzer & @adesnik assess the military wins, the strategic challenges, and everything in between. x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

President Trump says the war in Iran is "close to over" as Lebanon and Israel huddle in D.C. for the first direct talks in decades. @therealBehnamBT, @elizabethpipko, and @JohnWMcCarthy join @KatiePavlich to hash out the latest.

Spoke with the great John @batchelorshow tonight about the status of Iran’s nuclear material that remains a sticking point—for good reason—in peace talks. Tune in: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

Senior Director of FDD Iran Program Behnam Ben Taleblu explains how difficult it is for the US to police and implement a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. #StraitOfHormuz #Iran #Trump @therealBehnamBT @Leighanngerrans

My take on Israel Lebanon talks today: “For the first time in decades, Washington recognizes the Lebanese government as a sovereign entity that speaks for Lebanon and decides its affairs. Prior to today, whenever Washington wanted something done in Lebanon, it usually talked to Damascus, Tehran, Doha, or Riyadh. Now that the Lebanese are entrusted with their own fate, they must also live up to the responsibility. The Lebanese state will have to deliver on the promises it made, principally to disarm Hezbollah and to sign a peace agreement with Israel.”

Today’s @WSJ editorial cites @FDD analysis to explain why the naval blockade is crushing Iran’s economy. @miadmaleki: $435 million lost per day, oil shut-ins within two weeks. @ElaineDezenski & Daniel Swift: war damage already above 40% of prewar GDP.

'Iran is trying to remind these countries (Gulf states) that they are still under threat and that if hostilities resume, they would come under even more pressure' @RyanBrobst_ tells @benitalevin 👇For more news and updates, visit our official website👇 bit.ly/i24NEWSEN

Turkey is positioning itself as the leading Sunni power—backed by Qatar’s wealth and growing regional influence 🇹🇷 @JSchanzer & @SinanCiddi join @CliffordDMay on this episode of Foreign Podicy to discuss Turkey's momentum in the region. Don't miss it: bit.ly/41rf92F