Nearly two years ago, Iran agreed to take a series of steps to scale down its nuclear program in line with a deal it concluded with USA, UK, Russia, France, China and Germany. Iran was to dismantle its centrifuges and stop its activities at its nuclear reactor in Arak in exchange for lifting of sanctions against it imposed by the USA, UN and EU. However, all signs indicate that Iran has failed to honor its part of the deal. Iranian violation of the agreement has been a constant source of concern to the world, particularly the six signatories. Every time it flouts the clauses of the agreement, it is warned of consequences. But the warnings remained just that, without any action whatsoever. An undeterred Iran simply continued to defy international opinion and breached the pact again and again. US President Donald Trump's approach to Iran appears different from that of his predecessor Barack Obama. It was during Obama's term that the Iran nuclear pact was signed amidst fierce criticism. Trump rejected the agreement even during his campaign days, saying it was an insult to the Americans. Thus, it has come as no surprise that the President tweeted Thursday that Iran has been put on notice following its ballistic missile test. He pulled up the Iranians, saying that they should be thankful for the terrible deal the Americans had made with them. "Iran was on its last legs and ready to collapse until the US came along and gave it a life-line in the form of the Iran deal." It is clear that Iran has now been put on probation. The world will be watching its wayward ways. It will no longer be allowed to run free with the one-sided deal which has worked in its favor. The world has remained silent spectators to Iran's expansionist agenda against the Arab world, undermining regional and global stability. The US foreign policy in this regard will be clear in the coming days. And this will impact the position the international community as well. It is high time the world looks at Iran's aggressive conduct as a destabilizing factor and adopts a more assertive position against the belligerent Tehran regime.
