The war of words between Washington and Tehran is heating up by the hour. And no end seems to be in sight, at least for the moment. US President Donald Trump's tweets against a defiant Iran are sending clear messages to Tehran: "Iran is playing with fire. They don't appreciate how kind President Obama was to them. Not me!" Trump has clearly indicated that he will not be toeing the soft line of his predecessor, Barack Obama. He expects Iran to strictly adhere to the nuclear agreement without any concessions, no matter what, mainly because Washington considers Iran as the major instigator of terror in the region. Previous Trump tweets had bared his mind even before he assumed his post. Without mincing words, he had said the deal was "terrible," signifying that he was not at all convinced with the provisions of the deal. The US President has further indicated that he would look for a legal mechanism to abrogate the agreement. He has not ruled out military action either. There are clear pointers to Washington's no-nonsense approach to Iran as Tehran continues to defy the international community. For starters, the administration has imposed fresh economic sanctions against 13 individuals and 12 companies suspected of supplying parts used in Iran's missile development program. More punishing measures are expected to follow. Iran, on its part, continues to remain defiant. If anything, it reflects poorly on Tehran's weakening foundations as it holds on to the proverbial straw. But for how long, one wonders, as the Iranian people are becoming more and more aware of the regime's continuing disobedience to international law.
