Top Issues
- Afghanistan
- Arab Spring
- Global War on Terror
- Iran - Energy
- Iran - Human Rights
- Israel
- Palestinian Politics
- Radicalization
- Syria
- United Nations
FDD Bookstore
The Wave: Man, God, and the Ballot Box in the Middle East
The promise of democracy for Muslims offers something historically unparalleled. Where Islamist groups once dreamed of revolution, quietly developed paramilitary cells, and assassinated their secular opponents, mainstream Islamist groups today see elections as a means for society to maintain akhlaq; the mores that define good Muslims.
Learn MoreAnalysis & Commentary - Mark Dubowitz
Tough Talk: Stricter Sanctions on Iran Urged
Prominent lawmakers and Middle East experts on Thursday urged Washington to enact stricter sanctions on Iran, with one former senior diplomat urging "the most robust sanctions in history." more...
Iran Sanctions Bill Coming to Senate Floor Again
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is bringing the Johnson-Shelby Iran sanctions bill to the floor for a second time today in an attempt to pass the bill by unanimous consent, without a formal vote. more...
Syria Scours More Trade Routes in Search for Grain
Syria is casting a wide net in a frantic bid to secure grain for its population as a sanctions-induced trade finance freeze scuppers big deals and forces the country to meet its needs with smaller deals, sources say. more...
US Senate to Consider New Iran teranctions
US Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid will ask the chamber to approve a new package of oil and economic sanctions on Thursday aimed at further pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear program, a Democratic leadership aide told Reuters. more...
Iran Sanctions: Now or Never
The next round of “P5+1” talks with Iran are due to restart on May 23. It is widely accepted in Israel, in Congress and among informed foreign policy gurus that the administration will strive mightily to make a deal. more...
Risk of Cyberattacks Clouds Natural Gas Boom
“The natural gas sector would be the obvious place for enemies of the United States to target just because of the [industry’s] enormous economic potential,” said Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. more...
Indians Host Clinton While Also Wooing Iran
Mrs. Clinton never mentioned the presence of the Iranian delegation, nor the rupee payment system, yet American officials do not seem to mind. Mark Dubowitz, an Iran specialist in Washington, said a primary purpose of sanctions is to starve Iran of the dollars and euros. more...
Could Iran Nuclear Talks Founder over Sanctions Relief?
Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank that has advised Congress on sanctions legislation, says this is the time to intensify sanctions. more...
Oil Report Seen Supporting Iran Sanctions
"The last thing the administration would do ahead of Baghdad talks would be to show any sign that they are not full steam ahead on oil market sanctions," said Mark Dubowitz, the head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. more...
US Sets New Sanctions Against Technology for Syria and Iran
The White House said that the restrictions were primarily aimed at entities based inside the two countries, but that American technology companies had been consulted and understood that compliance would now be part of their standard due diligence in international contracts. more...
Dubai Emerges as Pivotal Factor in West’s Clash with Iran
“For years Dubai was a huge headache for the administration because it was unwilling to enforce sanctions,” said Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies in Washington. more...
US Not Backing Off as Iran Sanctions Bite
"If the administration did that it would provide more clarity and more comfort to companies engaged in trade with Iran that is permissible under U.S. law," said Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which is well known for its forceful lobbying on tougher Iran sanctions. more...
US Lawmakers Target Iran Energy Sector for Expanded Sanctions
The proposed legislation expands on existing laws by making the Iranian energy sector a “no-go zone” for any foreign investment in energy, any imports of natural gas and the sale of energy-related technology, goods and services, said Mark Dubowitz, who advised Deutch on the bill... more...
US Exempts Japan, 10 EU Nations From Iran Oil Sanctions
Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said in an interview that the Obama administration’s action yesterday “begins to reduce some of the uncertainty in oil markets over how the administration will apply oil market sanctions.” more...
US Exempts Japan and 10 Other Countries From Sanctions Over Iran Oil
“It will calm oil market anxiety by signaling that the administration is going to let some Iranian oil flow,” said Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, which favors the sanctions. more...
Major Nations Could Face Economic Sanctions Over Iran Oil Buys
Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a pro-sanctions group, said the administration’s approach would help reassure nervous oil markets by showing that Japan can continue to make limited purchases of Iranian oil. more...
US Exempts 11 States from Iran Sanctions; China, India Exposed
Mark Dubowitz, an advocate for tougher sanctions on Iran and the head of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said Japan's example was likely to be significant. more...
New Sanction Severely Limits Iran’s Global Commerce
"It's a big deal," says Iran sanctions expert Mark Dubowitz, "because it complicates Iran's ability to move billions of dollars through the international financial system." more...
Global Network Expels as Many as 30 of Iran’s Banks in Move to Isolate Its Economy
“This could deny Iran’s banks the ability to move billions of dollars, and ratchet up the economic pressure on leaders who have so far refused to reach a negotiated settlement on their illegal nuclear weapons program,”... more...
Iran Banks Face Cut-Off From SWIFT Network
“This was a political blow to Iran to be expelled from what is the financial equivalent of the UN,” said Mark Dubowitz, who has been advising the White House and Congress on this and other means of putting economic pressure on Tehran. more...