Although the United States claims Iran rejects negotiations, it was the US which left the negotiating table and reneged on its promises under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal, which is endorsed by the United Nations. Not just the current administration, its predecessor also failed to live up to the agreement.

Since the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned the world years ago about an emerging bully, it became clear to everyone that any deal with the US government is not worth the paper it's written on; even treaties ratified by US Congress.

The US has always pretended to be a trustworthy actor in the international arena. But even before the current egregiously deceitful administration, it has already a long history of reneging on international treaties and bilateral agreements dating back to its solemn commitments to its own Native American tribes. Also on history records are former president Richard Nixon’s shock unilateral cancellation of the direct international convertibility of the US dollar to gold, the assurance to the Soviet Union not to expand NATO eastward apart from the withdrawal from JCPOA, to name but a few.

The current administration alone has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, Trans-Pacific Partnership, North American Free Trade Agreement, and Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty among others. Its totally unjustified imposition of sanctions against International Criminal Court only adds to compounding evidences of Washington’s untrustworthiness and unscrupulousness in acting unilaterally and arbitrarily, in spite of solemn treaty agreements, which caused inevitable chaos and collateral damage to the international community.

US' cowboy diplomacy only exhibits that its foreign policy is just a series of bully boy tactics, extending even to its membership of international organizations. It pulled out of UNESCO in 2017 in opposition to the recognition of Palestinian territories as a state, the UN Human Rights Council in 2018 as the body launched a probe into killings in Gaza in which Israel was accused of excessive use of force, and the World Health Organization at its critical time.

On July 14, 2015, Iran and five permanent members of UN Security Council and Germany (P5+1) together with the European Union agreed on JCPOA as a pivotal framework to resolve the long-standing dispute over Iran's nuclear program. It's a remarkable achievement of multilateral diplomacy in a strife-torn world where peace and cooperation matter most.

According to this document, which was annexed to the Security Council Resolution 2231 and binding all members of the international community, Iran in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions, accepts a set of restrictions on its nuclear program to demonstrate the peaceful nature of the program.

International Atomic Energy Agency, as the sole supervisor of Iran's compliance, has repeatedly, in 16 reports, confirmed Iran's full compliance, reiterating that the country has remained committed to its side of the deal.

At the same time, the Obama administration also blatantly violated the letter and spirit of JCPOA, by its enactment of the 10-year Extension of Iran Sanctions Act in 2016 and the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act in 2015. Then all of a sudden, contrary to rules and principles of international law, and without any provocation, the Trump administration in May 2018 abruptly walked away from the deal and begun the process of re-imposing sanctions which were waived under JCPOA. Typically, the White House justified its decision with distorted facts and downright fabrications.

Based on Articles 25 and 48 of the UN Charter, the abrupt unilateral withdrawal is tantamount to a clear violation of international law. It's worth noting that Resolution 2231 was adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and "calls upon all Members States ... to take such actions as may be appropriate to support the implementation of the JCPOA, including by ... refraining from actions that undermine implementation of commitments under the JCPOA".

Although the other signatories in the P4+1 have stated their adherence to the JCPOA and continue to abide by Resolution 2231, US secondary sanctions remain in place.

As Zarif tweeted "The US isn't merely violating JCPOA and bullying others to do so, too. It also has (the) dishonor of being first in UN history to punish law-abiding countries for NOT violating a Security Council resolution".

US' arbitrary foreign policy moves will destroy hard-earned achievements of multilateralism, paving the way for unilateralism and the rule of the jungle to replace the rule of law. This will gravely endanger international peace and security.

It is clearly beholden of the international community to stand up to such a bare-faced violator of international norms. They should realize that inaction can be interpreted as tacit acquiescence. If the American bully is not challenged for its blatant violations, it will only encourage the tyrannical regime to carry out more egregious bullying on the world stage.

A bully will only get more aggressive if you do not stand up to it. The US has not only committed state terrorism against Iran, it has also imposed sanctions on Nord Stream pipeline against Europe, Turk Stream pipeline, China; and it will soon target others.

The author is consul of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hong Kong & Macao. He has an MA in international law.