Diplomacy wins important step in striking Iran nuke deal

A landmark agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue was announced on Sunday in Geneva after Iran and six world powers - China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain and the United States - managed to break a deadlock that had lasted for decades. According to the new deal, as elaborated by the White House, Iran will stop enriching uranium above fissile purity of five percent over the coming six months, a level up to which it can be used for producing energy but not enough to make bombs. Under the deal, Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 20 percent will either be diluted or converted into oxides so that it cannot be used for military purposes. Iran will also halt installing any new centrifuge while allowing more global inspections of its nuclear sites. US President Barack Obama, on behalf of the biggest stakeholder in the dialogue, declared the deal an "important first step" to curb Tehran's nuclear program. He released a response to the agreement that is being described as an "interim deal," pledging to stop imposing new sanctions worth $7 billion on Iran in the next six months, in a modest relief to the Islamic nation. The accord has been applauded by most countries except Saudi Arabia and Israel, which will only accept a deal that promises to wipe out Iran's nuclear program altogether owing to historical and geopolitical reasons. Sunday's announcement in Geneva is a positive diplomatic achievement for Iran's newly-elected president Hassan Rouhani, who is known to be a moderate. Under pressure from stringent sanctions, Iran's main exports, oil and gas, have been hit as countries reduced their purchases from Iran. Double-digit unemployment and inflation have gripped its economy, prompting Iran to seek a way out of the impasse. Iran's new leader appears to believe in tactics. He understands pragmatic ideology and the diversity of diplomatic methods to help his nation optimize benefits within the available options. This deal probably signals the beginning of the re-orientation of Iran's diplomacy. Iran will aim to compromise on its nuclear program and seek to engage with the international community, especially the US. However, it should be noted that this deal has far from touched the fundamental discord between Iran and the US. The two countries still feud over ideology. In addition, Iran gains more influence in the strategically important region after the 2003 Iraq war, which is difficult for Washington to accept. Unless there is strategic adjustment of the two sides, deep distrust between the two sides will remain.