Europe, China, and Russia said they will stick to the deal and not impose sanctions on Iran. We’re witnessing now a transitional period: For the time being, the deal will be preserved, even without the United States. Either Iran moves in a positive direction, or, if European talks with Tehran fail, the Europeans will join the United States in reimplementingsanctions. Then, the Untied States and Europe would pressure China and Russia to come along.

Obviously, Iran expected Trump’s decision and prepared to respond positively to the Europeans’ offer to remain within the deal as long as the European Union (EU) agreed not to impose any sanctions. It’s possible that the Europeans secured an American commitment that their companies will be waived from imposing sanctions, if they continue dealing with Iran, as compensation for playing a role in filling the vacuum, which for now guarantees that Tehran will not resume enriching. If this proves to be the case, everyone would come out winners or, at the minimum, not losers.

The main winners would be the Europeans. In this scenario, they would be the lead re-negotiators, while their companies would be protected from any impact from U.S, sanctions. One thing that should be clear to EU diplomats, however, is that Iran’s current policies represent the core of this crisis. Those policies threaten the EU’s economy, world stability, and regional peace in the Middle East.

Several weeks ago, the Pentagon complained about a buildup ofIranian troops, artillery, and several missiles on islands within range of the world’s biggest oil-shipping corridor, the Strait of Hormuz. Moreover, Iran’s aggressive navy is lying low in critical sea-lanes around the Persian Gulf, and top U.S. military leaders are not sure why.

Europe imports almost half its oil from the Gulf. The threat is directed mainly at the region, but the EU will suffer greatly if Iran peruses its aggressive policies. If a global oil shock occurs, all will be affected.

Furthermore, Iran threatens Europe in a direct way. Just last November, atop Iranian general warned that the country could increase its missile range beyond 2,000 kilometers if it feels threatened by Europe. Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), said bluntly “If we have kept the range of our missiles to 2,000 kilometers, it’s not due to lack of technology. We are following a strategic doctrine.” Now, the Europeans will start negotiating with a country that threatens them. Can we expect a fair result?

In the oil market, Iran is playing a different game, dividing its tactics into two parallel steps: Resisting the OPEC output deal and stopping prices from increasing to a fair level.

On the first track, Iranian oil exports accelerated to a recent record in April, indicating Tehran is seeking to maximize revenue ahead of the U.S. decision on the nuclear deal. Exports of crude and condensate — a grade of ultra-light crude oil — hit 2.767 million barrels a day last month, according to data from Tanker Trackers. That was an increase from 2.104 million in March.

This is happening while OPEC, through a very costly trajectory, is trying to defend oil prices, including what Iran itself receives from its crude sales. Increasing exports goes against the collective policy of all the members of the organization, including Iran.

On the second track, Iran is doing its best to prevent oil prices from recovering, with an Iranian official even declaring publicly that Iran opposes any price increase in the oil market.

Amir Hossein Zamaninia, deputy oil minister for international and commercial affairs, said in an interview May 6 in Tehran that “a suitable price for crude is $60 to $65 a barrel.” Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the same day that Iran supports “reasonable” oil prices and is not an advocate of costlier crude.

But why should Zamaninia or Zanganeh to decide what is “suitable” or “reasonable”? A price of $65 per barrel is less than the price of oil in 1973, taking inflation into consideration. Moreover, everybody know that OPEC is fighting a long battle to improve prices. Why should a co-member stab others in the back in such a cheap way? Whom does this interest? Does Iran work for the buyers now? How about the Iranian people’s interest?

It is naïve to suppose that the Iranian regime works for the interest of the Iranian people. Not only does the regime quell by force its people when they try to resist policies, it also adopts policies that give priority to its reckless and costly adventurism at the expense of the wellbeing of ordinary Iranians. Because of Tehran’s official policies, the Iranian rial plunged to a record low against the U.S. dollar in the free market. The dollar was being offered for as much as 75,000 rials, compared to around 65,000 just a few days earlier. The average Iranian citizen suffers so that his rulers can continue their self-serving illusions.

It is high time for Iranians to take a deeper look into where these pipe dreams, threats, and subversions have led their historically strong country.