New dark money group to air ad on Iran nuclear deal in 18 states Share This:

Arak IR-40 Heavy Water Reactor, Iran. (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

A newly formed dark money group called “Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran” will begin running ads in at least 18 states, according to public documents. Ads in most markets begin today or tomorrow.

Earlier this week, Iran and a group of six other countries, including the United States, reached a deal intended to limit Iran’s nuclear abilities while lifting economic sanctions. The deal is vehemently opposed by many Republicans, and some Democrats, though whether Congress is able to kill the deal is yet to be seen.

Documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission and processed by Sunlight’s Political Ad Sleuth show the ads landing in at least 18 states, in markets from Portland, Ore., to Hartford, Conn.

Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran was set up as a nonprofit corporation in Washington, D.C., last month. Setting up a nonprofit corporation is a common tactic used to hide the source of a group’s funding.

Disclosure documents list only Patrick Dorton as being behind the group. Presumably that’s the Patrick Dorton who’s a partner at Rational 360, a “full service strategic communications” firm. That Patrick Dorton worked in the Clinton White House and has previously worked with The American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Calls made to Rational 360 and another phone number listed on the documents were not immediately returned.