As tensions between the United States and Iran reach a fever pitch, the pivotal role of Harold Hamm, a maverick oil tycoon from Oklahoma, in shaping US foreign policy has come under increasing scrutiny. At the helm of Continental Resources, the company he founded, Hamm's influence extends far beyond his domestic pursuits – into the corridors of power at the White House and on Capitol Hill.
At the heart of Hamm's advocacy lies the Council for a Secure America (CSA), a New York City-based non-profit he relaunched in 2012. This influential organisation brings together a rarefied group of US oil executives, former Israeli officials, and ex-White House staff to promote a singular agenda: that US energy dominance is the linchpin of national security. The CSA's mission statement, starkly declaring Iran an "existential threat," has been the driving force behind its high-octane lobbying efforts.
According to public records, in the 30 months following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and preceding the US-Israeli conflict with Iran in February 2026, the CSA conducted at least 300 briefings with lawmakers from both major parties. The organisation's influence stretches further still, with "high-level" discussions hosted with security experts from the United States and Israel, as well as a series of discreet meetings with global dignitaries. Among those privy to these engagements were Chris Wright, former fracking CEO turned energy secretary, and Doug Burgum, then North Dakota's governor – now Trump's interior secretary.
Hamm's hawkish stance on Iran is well-documented. In a 2018 essay co-authored for the National Review, he contended that Iran's "virulent rhetoric" fuels antisemitism, while its actions in the Middle East must be met with decisive action. Hamm confidently predicted that even in the event of a Strait of Hormuz closure, US oil flow would remain unimpeded – a claim eerily echoing Trump's public justifications for the conflict.
As scrutiny of his domestic influence mounts, particularly surrounding his role in a 2024 Mar-a-Lago fundraiser where Trump reportedly sought £800 million from oil executives, Hamm's foreign policy advocacy through the CSA offers a more nuanced understanding of his impact. His relentless push for US energy independence and robust stance on Iran underscore the complex interplay between energy politics and international relations.