The Obama administration’s lack of response to continued Iranian human rights abuses and violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions in the wake of the nuclear deal has emboldened Tehran’s illicit behavior, The Washington Post charged Monday in a staff editorial.

While Iran rushed to fulfill those conditions of the nuclear agreement that will enable it to collect $100 billion in frozen assets and end sanctions, the regime has also been “expanding its belligerent and illegal activities in other areas — and daring the West to respond,” the Post wrote. The administration’s efforts to “downplay” these violations have encouraged “Tehran to press for still-greater advantage.”

The Post cataloged Iran’s various provocations since the nuclear deal was announced in July, including the conviction and sentencing of its Tehran bureau chief Jason Rezaian, the arrest of two businessmen with U.S. residency or citizenship, and the test launch of two ballistic missiles.

After observing that the administration failed to respond to any of these actions, the editorial explained:

It’s not hard to guess the reasons for this fecklessness. President Obama is reluctant to do anything that might derail the nuclear deal before Iran carries out its commitments, including uninstalling thousands of centrifuges and diluting or removing tons of enriched uranium. The same logic prompted him to tolerate Iran’s malign interventions in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, along with the arrest of Mr. Rezaian, while the pact was under negotiation.

The Post rejected claims by White House officials “that Iran’s nonnuclear violations make it all the more important that the nuclear deal be implemented,” arguing that they ignored the direct connection between Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the launch of ballistic missiles, which are exclusively designed to deliver nuclear warheads. The editorial acknowledged that the nuclear deal doesn’t ban ballistic missile tests, but emphasized that the Security Council resolution restricting them is still in effect.

“Iran is clearly testing the will of the United States and its allies to enforce the overall regime limiting its nuclear ambitions,” the editorial concluded. “It will take maximum advantage of Mr. Obama’s fear of undoing a legacy achievement, unless and until its bluff is called. That’s why the administration would be wise to take firm action now in response to the missile tests rather than trying to sweep them under the carpet.”