EARLIER this week, hours after the White House had confirmed that Iran was abiding by the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, the State Department announced new sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and entities linked to the country’s missile programme. The Iranian reaction was swift, with President Rouhani saying on Wednesday that his country would “respond appropriately” to US moves. Ties between the US and Iran have been strained ever since the events of 1979, when Tehran broke away from the American orbit. In the decades since, both sides have been involved in proxy wars, be it the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-88, or the current imbroglio in Syria. However, what is important is that both sides have avoided a direct war, despite many close calls. While the relationship has never been easy, there was a hint of rapprochement during the Obama years, though normalisation of ties was still far off. Unfortunately, the course the Trump administration has adopted is one of confrontation with the Islamic Republic, and if saner counsel does not prevail, an explosive new front may open up in a Middle East already shattered by war and militancy.

Instead of building upon the 2015 nuclear agreement — which Mr Trump once termed “the worst deal ever” — and addressing its concerns with Iran at the negotiating table, it appears that the current American administration is trying very hard to look for ‘trouble’ with Iran. Unable to find fault with the 2015 deal, which was hailed by most members of the international community as a major achievement of multilateral diplomacy, Washington is now adamant to raise other issues with Iran that are bound to put it on a collision course with Tehran. It is a fact that the old order is collapsing in the Middle East and Iran has moved in to fill the vacuum in places (Iraq, Syria, Yemen). This has alarmed the US and its regional allies, especially the Saudis and Israel. Mr Trump should remember that the US is no longer the world’s policeman. If the regional states have issues with Iran, let them sit at the table with Tehran and discuss matters frankly. Flexing military muscles to cow Tehran into submission and engaging in confrontational rhetoric will only embolden hard-line elements in Iran. As it is, there is enough chaos in the Middle East; the US must work with Iran to ensure that another crisis does not emerge.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2017