The Iranian regime has put out a statement threatening retaliation for accusations made against it.

I’m willing to bet there is not one person who, after reading the previous sentence, is now feeling shocked, astonished, aghast, or in any way surprised. Why? Because that’s just what Iran does. The United States makes a charge against Iran and the radicals chant, “Death to America.” Israel levels an allegation at the regime and it’s “Death to Israel.” So what makes this threat different than Iran just being Iran? This time the radical leadership is not going after a government, but a think tank.

The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) is based in Washington, D.C., and centers its activities around national security and foreign policy issues. Founded by Clifford D. May after the 9/11 attacks, “FDD conducts in-depth research, produces accurate and timely analyses, identifies illicit activities, and provides policy options—all with the aim of strengthening U.S. national security and reducing or eliminating threats posed by adversaries and enemies of the United States and other free nations.”[1] In other words, it is a D.C. think tank populated by a lot of really smart people with very distinguished backgrounds who know a lot about the world.

FDD’s Iran Program, headed by CEO Mark Dubowitz,[2] has consistently come out strong against the Iranian government, earlier encouraging the Trump administration to step out of the 2015 Iran deal and currently pushing for stronger economic sanctions against the rogue nation. In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has taken the unprecedented step of threatening not just a nation, but specifically a number of that nation’s citizens. [3] In a statement published August 24, 2019, the foreign ministry accuses FDD and Dubowitz himself of spreading lies and propaganda in order to aid “U.S. economic terrorism.” As a result, any actions taken against FDD, Dubowitz, and their allies by Iranian “judicial and security apparatuses . . . will be considered legitimate.”[4] This is a direct threat against the safety of American citizens.

FDD was quick to reply, saying in part, “FDD considers its inclusion on any list put out by the regime as a badge of honor and looks forward to the day when Americans and others can visit a free and democratic Iran.”[5] The U.S. State Department was less magnanimous in their response. Spokesperson Megan Ortagus tweeted, “The outlaw regime in Iran issued a threat today against @FDD, an American think tank, and its CEO. The U.S. takes the regime’s threats seriously. We intend to hold Iran responsible for directly or indirectly compromising the safety of any American.”[6]

This threat against FDD is reminiscent of the fatwa issued years ago against author Salman Rushdie, which ultimately led to a bounty being put on his head. This sanction against Mark Dubowitz and FDD must not be allowed to get to that same point. I’m encouraged by the way the U.S. administration has so quickly come out in support of its citizens. My hope is that the rest of the world will follow suit, forcing the Iranian government to step back and retract their despicable statement.

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[1] “About FDD.” FDD, https://www.fdd.org/about-fdd/.

[2] “Iran Program.” FDD, https://www.fdd.org/projects/iran-program/.

[3] Tibon, Amir. “Iran Threatens Actions by ‘Security Institutions’ against D.C. Think Tank.” Haaretz.com, 25 Aug. 2019, https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/.premium-iran-threatens-actions-by-security-institutions-against-d-c-think-tank-1.7737887.

[4] Iranidoost, Kamal. “Iran Sanctions Washington-Based FDD for Role in Intensifying ‘US Economic Terrorism.’” Mehr News Agency, 24 Aug. 2019, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/149247/Iran-sanctions-Washington-based-FDD-for-role-in-intensifying.

[5] FDD. “(3/3) FDD Considers Its Inclusion on Any List Put out by the Regime as a Badge of Honor and Looks Forward to the Day When Americans and Others Can Visit a Free and Democratic Iran.” Twitter, 24 Aug. 2019, https://twitter.com/fdd/status/1165342959648354306?s=21.

[6] Ortagus, Morgan. “The Outlaw Regime in Iran Issued a Threat Today against @FDD, an American Think Tank, and Its CEO. The U.S. Takes the Regime’s Threats Seriously. We Intend to Hold Iran Responsible for Directly or Indirectly Compromising the Safety of Any American.” Twitter, 24 Aug. 2019, https://twitter.com/statedeptspox/status/1165419298539655175?s=21.