White House Shares Iran Sanctions Graphic from Foundation for Defense of Democracies as Trump Appoints Former FDD Official to Negotiations Team

The White House’s official rapid response account on X posted a graphic from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies last week that falsely claimed Tehran’s uranium enrichment accelerated due to the loosening of sanctions under former President Joe Biden. 67 percent under the 2015 nuclear deal. Enrichment to 90 percent is required to make weapons.

Tehran accelerated uranium enrichment only after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Rep. ) spoke on Monday about Iran. He said Iran is like a “petulant child” and is “trying to wait out” President Trump.

“I think you're — what you're seeing right now — is, Iran test this administration. I think they're, they're much like a petulant child,” Fry stated. President Donald Trump appointed Nick Stewart to the Office of the Special Envoy for Peace Missions on Saturday.

U.S. negotiating team engaging with Iran alongside envoy Steve Witkoff. He served as managing director of advocacy at FDD Action and at the Department of State during President Trump’s first administration.

S. S. arms sales to Israel, and the United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025.

It was originally incorporated as EMET, Hebrew for “truth,” shortly after the start of the second Palestinian Intifada. ” EMET changed its name to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

FDD Chief Executive Mark Dubowitz testified before Congress during debates over the 2015 JCPOA. He pushed for expanded sanctions on IRGC-linked entities, stricter enforcement, and limits on sanctions relief. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace described FDD in 2011 as supplying the “intellectual firepower” behind pro-Israel advocacy in Washington.

FDD accepts no funding from foreign governments according to its website. ” Jacob Nagel served as acting head of Israel’s National Security Council and Netanyahu’s national security adviser from 2016 to 2017.

Richard Goldberg helped coordinate key elements of the “maximum pressure” campaign while serving on Trump’s National Security Council. ” Iran sanctioned the FDD and Mark Dubowitz in 2019. ” He wrote in January that “the Trump administration has notched tactical win after tactical win against Iran” including killing Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

U.S. strikes on Iran began on February 28. President Trump said on Wednesday that negotiations have progressed. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global energy crisis.