Iran and the US have returned to the trade of barbs after Iran defeated the US move at the United Nation seeking Iranian arms embargo. The episode is more than a voting incident as it shows new alignments of countries’ foreign policies and priorities. The US resolution sought UN sanctions on Iran’s arms deal where only two of the Council’s 15 members voted in favour of the US resolution – one, the US itself and the other Dominican Republic. In the voting, Russia and China openly opposed the US resolution, while European members abstained, which is a mild form of opposing the move. A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry was quick to mock the US camp, saying that “In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated. Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilise a small country (to vote) with them”. Recovering from the defeat and humiliation, the US has vowed to come up with a “snapback” from this week. If the White House goes ahead with its controversial technique, the Iran nuclear deal, to which the European Union, China and Russia have high regards, may become history. European allies have failed to convince President Trump, who often remains impulsive while talking about Iran, not to force sanctions on Iran, as snapback may push the UNSC into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises. The sane quarters in the US State Department should convince President Trump to attend a summit proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation. The US president, who is all playing to the gallery to win the upcoming presidential elections, may not go for talks in Iran as the hawkish quarters in the Republican may dislike it. Putin’s proposal may not get any headway given Trump’s refusal to attend it. Without the presence of the US president, the summit will be nonstarter. On the other hand, the new development in the Gulf – the UAE and Israel deal – may change the strategic and political scene and trigger an arm race. It is also the test of Iran’s diplomatic waters. In the fast changing scenario, Tehran needs to take wise and sane steps to guard its interest. So for, Tehran has been playing well by increasing its economic ties with China. It needs to work on its economy without provoking neighbours and the US. *