Two years ago, the international community reached a mutually agreed accommodation with the regime in Tehran over its proposed development of a nuclear programme for peaceful purposes. That accord, although heavily criticised at the time, was the best way forward then to end the crippling economic sanctions that had hit ordinary Iranians and that had left their economy moribund and frozen without regulated access to international markets.
But over these past two years, and despite having the international agreement in place, the regime in Tehran has acted against the spirit, if not the actual words, of the accord. It’s one thing to seek approval of the international community when it comes to ending sanctions, and another to spurn loud criticisms of its continued meddling and involvement in Yemen, where it continues to give Al Houthis the ability to launch missiles at aid ships, in Bahrain, where its Revolutionary Guard has trained and given succour to anti-government terrorist forces, in Qatar, where it courts the leadership there, and in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
United States President Donald Trump on Friday announced in Washington that he was seeking changes to the agreement and said that he would no longer certify the deal unless it was amended by Congress and the other allied signatories. Significantly too, the US Treasury has now classified Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation.
Gulf Arab states desire peace and stability in the region, but have had to live for too long with the seeds of chaos and instability spread by the activities of Iran and its Revolutionary Guard. And the nuclear agreement with Tehran was an opportunity for the regime there to show good faith, correct its policies and deal responsibly with the international community. Regrettably, that has not been the case over these past two years, and the government of Iran, despite the re-election of a supposedly moderate President Hassan Rouhani, has not taken advantage of the opportunities accorded by the agreement and the international community. Instead, it continues its meddlesome ways.
Iran needs to be held accountable for its actions, and Trump’s strategy now takes steps to hold Tehran to account for its negative and unacceptable behaviour. This litany of negative behaviour includes continuing its ballistic missile programme — a direct threat to regional stability — its backing of Al Houthis in Yemen, its support for Hezbollah’s nefarious activities, and adopting and engaging in cyberattacks.
