Barbs at Iran forebodes more aggressive Trump diplomacy

The U.S. administration of President Donald Trump seemed to have taken Iran bashing as a symbol of its diplomatic toughness. Judging as a whole the measures and statements Trump released in the latest days, the world is highly likely to see an era of aggressiveness by the new U.S. top leader on foreign policies.

RADICAL BREAK WITH OBAMA'S IRAN STRATEGY

Iran seemed to have born the brunt of Trump's increasingly strident tone both in his twitter statements and national policies. The real estate mogul had promised in his campaign a radical break with the foreign policy of his predecessor Barack Obama.

In one of the most startling shifts, Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 27 to temporarily ban people from Iran and other six countries from entering the United States, claiming these nations are "compromised by terrorism."

Under Trump's order, up to 60,000 visas have been revoked, said the U.S. State Department earlier Friday.

Moreover, Washington Wednesday put Tehran "on notice" over the latter's missile launch last week and an attack against a Saudi Arabian vessel by Iran-supported Houthi militants in Yemen. Michael Flynn, Trump's national security advisor, accused the firing of defying UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Two days later, the U.S. Treasury Department unveiled new sanctions, the first of Trump's presidency, against a group of Iranian entities, individuals and companies involved in the "destabilizing" ballistic missile program.

Hours after the sanctions were announced, hardline Pentagon chief James Mattis said Iran was "the single biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world."

Meanwhile, Trump also took barbs at the Islamic Republic in a trove of his twitter posts.

"Iran is playing with fire -- they don't appreciate how 'kind' President Obama was to them. Not me!" the U.S. president said.

TEHRAN'S TIT-FOR-TAT

In the apparent retaliation for Trump's visa ban, Iran stopped granting visas to U.S. citizens earlier on Jan. 31.

In response to Flynn's allegations, the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed his remarks as "baseless and provocative."

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi, "none of the Iranian missiles has been designed for delivering nuclear weapons."

Therefore, "Iran's missile test does not contradict UN Security Council Resolution 2231," he said, stressing "Iran's deterrent policy is by no means negotiable."

One day later, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also hit back on twitter, saying "Iran is unmoved by threats," in an apparent reaction to Trump's previous post in which he vowed to keep every option on the table vis-a-vis Iran's "provocative" moves.

"We will never use our weapons against anyone, except in self-defense. Let us see if any of those who complain can make the same statement," Zarif said.

Also on Friday, Tehran decided to prohibit the U.S. men's freestyle wrestling team from competing in Men's World Cup Wrestling Competitions 2017 held by Iran on Feb. 17-18.

The recent U.S. stances against Iran's citizens prompt such a decision,Qasemi said.

The Middle East country also vowed on the same day "reciprocal action" to "exercise legal restrictions on some U.S. individuals and companies who have the role in formation of and assistance to the extremist and terrorist groups in the region."

WILL CALM HEADS PREVAIL?

Washington-Tehran relations have deteriorated sharply since Trump took office last month.

Throughout his election campaign, Trump ridiculed the Obama administration of being weak on Iran, vowing to take a tougher line and abandon Obama's promise to lift measures aimed at Iran's nuclear program if elected.

Trump's visa ban has triggered decrying nation-wide and worldwide. The Iraqi parliament has called for measures in retaliation for the U.S. package of penalties.

Iranian Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri on Saturday urged calm heads to prevail.

"These are worn-out accusations against Iran and even the (accuser) himself is ashamed of saying it," he was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying. "If this nation is talked to respectfully and issues are resolved through negotiations and dialogue... it can be a win for everyone."

Despite U.S. officials' denial of taking more measures against Iran, the new sanctions have undoubtedly cast shadows on the peaceful settlement of Iranian nuclear issue, and the ultimate stability of the Middle East, for which leaders of the countries concerned have invested enormous resources and statesmanship for all these years.

It would be a colossal shame and unbearable misfortune for the globe if such efforts were thwarted by unchecked diplomatic adventurism and unconstructive antagonism.

source: Xinhua