Iran Dismisses Fuss about FDD Blacklisting

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi answered a question about the US government’s reaction to the recent sanction against the anti-Iranian and so-called Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD).

“The hue and cry raised by the US Department of State and by Mr. Dubowitz’ foundation is nothing new. Falsification and deception are their expertise. The legal consequences of the names of natural and legal persons being added to the blacklist mentioned in the law of 2017 have been explicitly and accurately stipulated in the text of the law. However, the US administration or the B-Team’s paid hirelings, like the FDD corporation, are not expected to do anything other than resorting to blackmailing and playing victim. But the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government will employ whatever legitimate instrument, in conformity with the international law, to protect the basic interests of the Iranian citizens,” he noted.

“According to the above-mentioned law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to fulfill a series of duties, and, as announced in the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the other administrative and judicial organizations have been and are doing their legal duties, and this measure by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would not replace their legal measures,” Mousavi explained.

Asked about the practical impacts of the sanction, the spokesperson said, “Blacklisting those persons is a principled measure, regardless of whether they would have direct tangible results or not. However, we believe that the sanction will definitely have practical results as well, but besides, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has fulfilled its legal obligation by taking this measure, giving the message that it is determined to support its citizens against the anti-Iran forces. These persons and everyone cooperating with them must know that their hostility towards the people, Iran and Iranians would not be forgotten or come without a price.”

His comments came after the US said it was taking what it called Iran’s “threats” seriously and would hold Tehran accountable if it compromises the safety of any American.

On Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry blacklisted the FDD and its director, Mark Dubowitz.

In its statement, the Foreign Ministry said the unilateral and illegal economic terrorism imposed by the US has been plotted and enforced with the objective of bringing about regime change in the Islamic Republic of Iran or affecting the Iranian government’s policies, decisions and measures, or even worse, harming Iran’s national and public security and damaging its independence, territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

It also lashed out at the FDD and Dubowitz for active involvement in designing, imposing and intensifying the impacts of economic terrorism against Iran.

The statement, however, has made it clear that the sanction will be without prejudice to any further legal measures that the other administrative, judicial or security institutions and organizations may take in order to counter, prosecute or punish the FDD and Dubowitz or their other Iranian and non-Iranian collaborators and accomplices for their actions and measures against the Iranian government and people’s national security and interests.

Afterwards, US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a tweet that Washington takes Iran’s threats seriously. “We intend to hold Iran responsible for directly or indirectly compromising the safety of any American,” Ortagus said.

Meanwhile, Dubowitz has described the blacklisting as a “direct threat” against the FDD, himself, and his think tank’s Iranian and non-Iranian friends.