They say actions speak louder than words, and perhaps this universal truth is even more evident in the Middle East, where the sound of rocket fire and the explosion of bombs often drowns out the written word. We in Israel know all about that, having been at the receiving end of gun and missile fire for decades. In that time we have learned, the hard way, that it is only our actions that ensure our survival, not written promises. Our neighbourhood does not play by western rules, and as the only democracy in the region we know all too well what it is to fight an enemy that abuses our values.

In our region, one regime stands out above all others in its destructive role. That same regime is attempting to camouflage its actions by employing diplomacy and by relying on the short memory of international public opinion. The ayatollahs in Tehran would have us believe that they are a peace-loving regime that seeks a tranquil, stable Middle East, and that the Vienna nuclear deal is proof of their benign intentions. But reality is telling us a different story, one that totally contradicts this narrative.

If we are to understand the Iranian regime, we must look at what it is doing, not just saying, and ask ourselves whether its actions are compatible not just with western interests but, more important, with western values.

Iran is the world’s leading state-sponsor of terrorism, arming and supporting Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Syrian regime (itself a leading state-sponsor of terrorism), and Houthi rebels in Yemen. It employs the IRGC (Iran’s Revolutionary Guards force) to perpetrate acts of terrorism throughout the world, from Asia to Europe to the United States.

Read the article in full at the Guardian.