The White House has confirmed that Nick Stewart has joined the team working on a deal to end the war with Iran.
Stewart, described by US officials as a former lobbyist and a State Department member during President Donald Trump’s first term, is being brought in as an adviser to the diplomatic effort led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
CBS News also reported that Stewart was already part of the delegation that traveled to Islamabad in early April, where that round of diplomacy failed.
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The White House just added a hawkish Iran adviser to the negotiating team…
Nick Stewart has been confirmed as an adviser to Steve Witkoff’s negotiating team handling the Iran war.
Brought on by Jared Kushner.
Previously worked at the State Department in Trump’s first… https://t.co/IJ9UqE8s82 pic.twitter.com/fBehG0Qv3S
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 2, 2026
‘Seasoned’ Iran expert added to Witkoff’s team
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales called Stewart a “sharp, seasoned policy expert” and said he was a valuable asset to Witkoff’s team.
Wales added that he brings “a wealth of leadership and Iran policy experience” from his work at the Department of State in the first Trump administration and on Capitol Hill. She said Stewart would help Witkoff work “in lockstep with President Trump and his entire national security team” to secure a deal that is “good for the United States and the world.”
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Nick Stewart is an outstanding addition to the Office of the Special Envoy for Peace Missions.
Nick is one of America’s sharpest experts on Iran policy.
His extensive expertise and proven leadership will help advance President Trump’s peace goals and deliver a deal that puts…
— Rep. Claudia Tenney (@RepTenney) May 2, 2026
Past lobbying role and Iran stance draw scrutiny
Stewart was brought on by Jared Kushner and had previously worked for the lobbying arm of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, which is described as a hawkish group that has supported military action against Iran. He has also been linked to lobbying filings filed with the Senate since 2023.
The State Department bio also says he entered the department in 2017 as a special assistant on the Policy Planning Staff before later moving into Iran-focused work.
The appointment takes place at a delicate time in the US-Iran relationship, as talks are still under strain following the failure of the previous round in Islamabad to reach a consensus.
Even as the makeup of the negotiating team comes under examination in Washington, the administration has maintained that the diplomatic push is part of a larger attempt to seek a deal with Tehran.
