Unveiling The Iran Experts Initiative: Influence & Diplomacy

Eveline McDermott 23 Jun 2025

Introduction
The Genesis of the Iran Experts Initiative
Operational Modus: Infiltration and Influence
- Targeting Western Think Tanks and Academia
- The Role of Iranian Diaspora and Operatives
Key Figures and Their Connections
- The Malley Connection and US Policy Implications
The Nuclear Deal Nexus
Unraveling the Web of Influence in Europe
The Broader Implications for International Relations
Navigating the Information Landscape: A Call for Scrutiny
- Transparency and Accountability in Foreign Policy
Conclusion

Introduction

In a world increasingly shaped by information and perception, the subtle art of influence can often wield more power than overt military might. Recent revelations have cast a spotlight on one such endeavor, known as the Iran Experts Initiative (IEI). This covert operation, reportedly initiated by Iran's Foreign Ministry in 2014, aimed to strategically shape Western discourse and policy regarding Tehran's interests. The exposure of the Iran Experts Initiative has ignited significant debate, raising crucial questions about the integrity of foreign policy discussions and the vulnerability of Western institutions to sophisticated influence campaigns.

The Iran Experts Initiative was not merely a public relations exercise; it was a meticulously planned strategy designed to position Iranian analysts within Western think tanks and academic circles. The ultimate goal, as purported by leaked emails, was to subtly advance Iran's diplomatic objectives, particularly concerning its nuclear program and its desire to shed its "pariah status" on the global stage. Understanding the mechanics and implications of the Iran Experts Initiative is vital for anyone seeking to grasp the complex dynamics of modern international relations and the hidden levers of power.

The Genesis of the Iran Experts Initiative

The origins of the Iran Experts Initiative are rooted in a specific geopolitical moment. Following eight years of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency, characterized by inflammatory rhetoric, Holocaust denial, and calls for the eradication of Israel, the Rouhani administration in 2014 was eager to re-engage with the international community and improve Iran’s image. It was during this period that Iranian Foreign Ministry officials reportedly initiated the Iran Experts Initiative, as revealed by reports in Semafor and Iran International, based on purported leaked emails dating from 2014. The initiative was conceived as a sophisticated tool to promote Tehran's arguments in the West, moving beyond the confrontational approach of the previous era.

This strategic shift aimed to cultivate a more favorable perception of Iran, particularly as negotiations over its nuclear program began to gather pace. The Rouhani administration understood that direct confrontation had isolated Iran, and a new approach was needed to foster dialogue and understanding. The Iran Experts Initiative was thus born from a desire to end Tehran’s pariah status, seeking to bridge divides and present Iran's perspective through seemingly independent voices within influential Western policy circles. This nuanced approach sought to leverage intellectual and academic platforms to achieve diplomatic gains, a far cry from the overt propaganda methods often associated with state-sponsored influence.

Operational Modus: Infiltration and Influence

The operational blueprint of the Iran Experts Initiative was intricate, focusing on leveraging existing networks and establishing new ones within Western policy landscapes. The core strategy involved tasking operatives, often drawn from Iranian diaspora communities, to promote Iranian interests. These individuals were not necessarily overt agents but rather analysts and academics whose work could subtly align with and advance Tehran's diplomatic objectives, especially during the clerical regime’s negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program.

The leaked emails suggest that those within the "Iran Experts Initiative" group reacted to Iranian outreach in a range of ways, from cautious engagement to active participation. This highlights the complex nature of influence operations, where individuals may genuinely believe they are contributing to dialogue and understanding, while simultaneously serving a broader, covert agenda. The initiative was meticulously planned to strategically position Iranian analysts within Western think tanks, allowing them to subtly advance Iran's diplomatic objectives without overtly appearing as state mouthpieces. This method of "soft power" sought to influence policy debates from within, shaping narratives and arguments to be more sympathetic to Tehran's positions.

Targeting Western Think Tanks and Academia

A central pillar of the Iran Experts Initiative's strategy was the cultivation of ties with Western academics and think tankers. These institutions are crucial in shaping public opinion and advising policymakers, making them prime targets for influence operations. By embedding individuals connected to the IEI within these organizations, Tehran sought to advance its positions on critical issues, most notably the nuclear issue, leading up to the landmark negotiations that resulted in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The program developed relationships that allowed for the dissemination of perspectives favorable to Iran, often framed as expert analysis or academic discourse. This subtle approach aimed to normalize Iran's positions and counter negative narratives, making it easier for Western policymakers to consider Tehran's viewpoints. The presence of individuals linked to the Iran Experts Initiative within respected Western institutions lent an air of credibility to the arguments being put forth, making them more palatable to a Western audience and decision-makers.

The Role of Iranian Diaspora and Operatives

The Iran Experts Initiative effectively utilized members of the Iranian diaspora, who, by virtue of their background and language skills, could navigate both Iranian and Western cultural and political landscapes. These individuals were tasked with promoting Iranian interests, often during sensitive negotiations. The strategy was to use these operatives to bridge the divide, fostering communication and exchanging ideas that would ultimately serve Iran's strategic goals.

While some members of the diaspora might have genuinely sought to foster dialogue and understanding, the IEI framework suggests a more directed effort to promote specific narratives. This dual role — seemingly independent experts fostering dialogue while simultaneously advancing state interests — is a hallmark of sophisticated influence operations. The initiative aimed to present Iran not as a pariah state but as a rational actor seeking peaceful resolution, a narrative that these diaspora-linked operatives were instrumental in propagating.

Key Figures and Their Connections

The exposure of the Iran Experts Initiative brought to light several individuals who were allegedly part of this network, raising questions about their roles and affiliations. Semafor's revelations in late September highlighted that the IEI was run by Zarif’s foreign ministry starting in the spring of 2014. Among the figures mentioned were those who simultaneously worked for top Western think tanks and gave advice to US and European officials, effectively extending Tehran's soft power.

For instance, one of the founding members of the Iran Experts Initiative was reportedly Ms. Tabatabai, a policy analyst. She, along with fellow academic Dina Esfandiary and Saeed Khatibzadeh, an Iranian diplomat who now serves as the regime’s deputy minister, were instrumental in establishing the group. This indicates a direct link between the Iranian diplomatic apparatus and the academic/think tank community involved in the IEI, underscoring the coordinated nature of the influence operation. The connections extended to institutions with long-standing ties to the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), such as IPIS, whose president, Mostafa Zahrani, an IRGC veteran, had direct contact with Iran experts at the time of the Iran Experts Initiative’s founding.

The Malley Connection and US Policy Implications

Perhaps one of the most significant revelations concerning the Iran Experts Initiative was the alleged involvement of aides to Robert Malley, who served as Biden's special envoy for Iran. Reports suggested that three of Malley's aides were part of an Iranian government network, with the IEI established by the Iranian Foreign Ministry in 2014 to extend Tehran's soft power. This connection has drawn considerable attention, highlighting the administration’s approach to sensitive foreign policy issues during a critical period.

The unresolved questions about these ties, particularly in light of Robert Malley’s suspension, have fueled concerns about potential foreign influence on US policy. The idea that individuals advising a high-ranking US diplomat on Iran policy might have been simultaneously involved in an initiative designed to advance Tehran's interests raises serious questions about conflicts of interest and national security. The Iran Experts Initiative's reach into such sensitive areas underscores the sophistication of the operation and the challenges Western governments face in identifying and mitigating foreign influence.

The Nuclear Deal Nexus

The timing of the Iran Experts Initiative's inception in 2014 is particularly telling, coinciding precisely with the ramp-up of negotiations for the Iran nuclear deal. The leaked emails suggest that a primary objective of the IEI was to propagate Iran’s objectives during these critical negotiations and bolster Tehran’s reputation in the West. This was not a coincidence; it was a strategic effort to shape the environment in which the deal was being discussed, making it more favorable to Iranian terms.

The program actively developed ties with Western academics and think tankers specifically to advance Tehran’s positions on the nuclear issue. By subtly influencing expert communities and policymakers, the Iran Experts Initiative aimed to ensure that arguments sympathetic to Iran's stance on its nuclear program gained traction. This included downplaying concerns about proliferation, emphasizing Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology, and portraying the deal as a necessary step towards regional stability. The ability of the IEI to foster communication and exchange ideas, as described in some contexts, was ultimately geared towards promoting cooperation that served Iran's interests in securing the landmark agreement.

Unraveling the Web of Influence in Europe

The reach of the Iran Experts Initiative was not confined to the United States; it extended significantly into European politics and expert communities. Recent press reports have revealed that the Iranian regime initiated the IEI in 2014 as part of an influence operation aimed specifically at U.S. and European policymakers and expert communities. This highlights a broader, transatlantic strategy to shape perceptions and policy across key Western capitals.

Lawmakers have expressed concern, noting that "several of those allegedly involved in the IEI had direct, and in some cases continuing, communications" with Iranian officials. This suggests a sustained effort to maintain channels of influence within European political and academic circles. Meetings in the European Parliament tracing Iran's web of influence underscore the gravity of these revelations. The Iran Experts Initiative served as a platform for dialogue and understanding, but this dialogue was reportedly leveraged to subtly advance Iranian interests, impacting European foreign policy discussions on Iran's nuclear program, human rights, and regional activities. The initiative's ability to foster communication and exchange ideas, while seemingly benign, was a strategic move to promote cooperation that contributed to a more peaceful and stable region, albeit on terms favorable to Tehran.

The Broader Implications for International Relations

The revelations surrounding the Iran Experts Initiative carry profound implications for the conduct of international relations and the understanding of foreign policy. They expose a sophisticated, covert initiative by the Iranian regime to strategically infiltrate Western policy circles and media outlets under the guise of academic or expert engagement. This type of influence operation challenges the traditional understanding of diplomacy, where interactions are typically transparent and state-to-state.

The IEI represents a form of "sharp power," where authoritarian states use manipulative tactics to penetrate and subvert democratic processes and institutions. By blurring the lines between independent analysis and state-directed advocacy, such initiatives erode trust in expert opinions and the media. This makes it increasingly difficult for the public and policymakers to discern genuinely independent advice from strategically planted narratives. The Iran Experts Initiative underscores the need for heightened vigilance and robust counter-intelligence measures to safeguard the integrity of policy debates and decision-making processes in democratic nations.

Navigating the Information Landscape: A Call for Scrutiny

In an era saturated with information, distinguishing between legitimate analysis and covert influence has become a critical challenge. The case of the Iran Experts Initiative serves as a stark reminder of how foreign actors can attempt to manipulate public discourse and policy debates. For the general public, it necessitates a greater degree of media literacy and critical thinking when consuming news and expert opinions on sensitive foreign policy matters. Understanding the potential for such operations is the first step towards discerning genuine insights from strategically crafted narratives.

For policymakers and institutions, the IEI revelations demand a thorough re-evaluation of vetting processes for individuals advising on foreign policy and for those engaging with foreign governments. The unresolved questions about individuals' ties to the Iran Experts Initiative and the lack of transparent information on related suspensions highlight systemic vulnerabilities that need urgent attention. This is not merely about identifying bad actors but about strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions against sophisticated, non-military forms of aggression.

Transparency and Accountability in Foreign Policy

The exposure of the Iran Experts Initiative underscores an urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in foreign policy formulation and implementation. When individuals advising governments have undisclosed ties to foreign state-sponsored initiatives, it compromises the integrity of the entire process. Governments must ensure that all advisors, particularly those dealing with sensitive national security issues, are subject to rigorous vetting and continuous oversight.

Furthermore, there needs to be a clear mechanism for addressing and disclosing potential conflicts of interest. The public has a right to know if the expert opinions influencing policy are truly independent or if they are, in part, products of a foreign government's influence campaign. The controversy surrounding the Iran Experts Initiative serves as a powerful call to action for all stakeholders – governments, think tanks, academia, and the media – to uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency to protect the democratic process from insidious foreign interference.

Conclusion

The Iran Experts Initiative, as revealed by detailed reports and purported leaked emails, represents a significant chapter in the ongoing saga of international influence operations. From its genesis in the Rouhani administration's desire to end Iran's pariah status to its sophisticated infiltration of Western think tanks and academic circles, the IEI sought to subtly advance Tehran's diplomatic objectives, particularly concerning its nuclear program. The alleged involvement of figures close to high-level US officials further underscores the profound implications for national security and the integrity of foreign policy.

As we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, the lessons from the Iran Experts Initiative are clear: vigilance, transparency, and critical scrutiny are paramount. It is crucial for policymakers, media, and the public alike to remain aware of the diverse and often covert methods employed by state actors to shape narratives and influence decisions. Understanding initiatives like the IEI is not just an academic exercise; it is essential for safeguarding democratic processes and ensuring that foreign policy truly serves the national interest. We invite you to share your thoughts on these revelations in the comments below, and consider exploring other articles on our site that delve into the intricate world of international relations and geopolitical strategy.

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