John Bolton, the White House national security adviser, described the sanction of “Foundation for Defense of Democracies” and its CEO Mark Dubowitz by the Islamic Republic as a threat and an unacceptable act.

Bolton tweeted on Friday, August 30: “Iran threating a US think tank and its CEO is beyond the pale.‎ FDD has done great work to expose Iranian corruption and malicious activities, and I doubt this spurious action will deter them.‎ Iran will be held accountable for any action taken to harm FDD or that of any American.‎"

Previously, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had also condemned the sanction of FDD by Tehran. He Tweeted on Thursday: “Continuing attempts by the regime in Iran to intimidate FDD, an American think tank—a THINK TANK—must be condemned by all freedom-loving people around the world. The U.S. does not take these threats lightly, and will hold the regime and its “apparatuses” to account.”

Mark Dubowitz responded to the sanction by tweeting: “This is a direct threat against FDD, me and our Iranian and non-Iranian friends. These threats will only strengthen our resolve to research and reveal the truth about the regime in Iran, and to support the burning desire of the vast majority of Iranians for freedom.”

Former presidential candidate Senator Mitt Romney also condemned the sanction in a tweet: “Iran’s vicious threats to an American citizen and to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies are further examples of its treachery, its untrustworthiness, and its malign intent. Those in businesses or governments who look away from this reality make a dangerous error.”

This week, the Islamic Republic announced that it has added the FDD to its list of sanctions, for its role as the source of some of the information that the United States uses in its sanctions against Iranian officials.