Okaz newspaper

THE new US sanctions against Iran took effect on Nov. 5. Many countries bet that President Donald Trump did not have the intention to impose these sanctions and it was nothing but an empty threat.

They argued that the sanctions could not be effectively imposed because of international complications and conflicts of interest. President Trump, however, proved that he can go far and has the determination to impose these sanctions at a time when the Iranian leaders were making fun of him, believing until the last minute that the talk of sanctions was nothing more than a political maneuver.

Iran deserves tougher punishments because it is the biggest rogue country in the Middle East, especially after the honeymoon between Iran and the US administration under Barack Obama ended.

During the Obama era, the sanctions against Tehran were lifted, a nuclear deal was signed and money poured into the Iranian coffers. However, Tehran did not invest this money to develop Iranian society and repair relations with neighboring countries. Instead, its appetite to gain more control and spread more destruction grew bigger.

Tehran did not stop interfering in the affairs of other countries. Its support for terrorist organizations in the region did not stop either. In fact, it intensified to a dangerous level.

The Iranian regime became the model of the worst regime that spread chaos, disrespected international charters and threatened global peace and security.

The Iranian people have been looking for development, moderation and honest living ever since the revolution led by the ayatollahs. The regime mobilized all its capabilities on exporting its rotten ideology and living the illusion of expansion and domination. All Iranian resources in the past 40 years were spent on this project that established terrorist organizations in the region and planted them inside stable countries. The Iranian leaders conspired to destabilize the region. The Arab Spring gave them a better chance to implement their projects while Obama gave them the biggest prize by signing the nuclear deal, helping Tehran to reach the highest level of recklessness.

The new sanctions can be considered the American atonement for a terrible sin. The exceptions made in these sanctions do not make a good weapon against Iran, as they should have. The sanctions should not have left some loopholes open so that it can continue on its destructive path.