New order

Deal between Tehran and the P5+1 opens up the doors for an era of new relations between Iran and the West.

The interim agreement reached between Iran and six major world powers after several rounds of talks in Geneva could play a huge role in changing the contours of politics in the Middle East and indeed, the world. The pact reached involves an agreement that Iran will halt its uranium enrichment programme, as a part of curbs on its nuclear programme, in return for a stage by stage lifting of sanctions placed on it. In the first phase, it would be allowed to sell its gold and some other products, though other sanctions would stay in place for now.



The pact between Iran and the United States (US), France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia promises to make the region a safer place. Relations between the US and Iran have been strained since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and grew still more bitter under President George Bush, elected to power in 2000. President Obama has indicated since 2008 that he wished to change this, with the election in Iran of liberal President Hassan Rouhani helping matters along. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had backed Rouhani, has endorsed the deal though some opposition is expected from hard-line elements within the country. Israel, which has an openly acrimonious relationship with Iran, has also made it clear it is not pleased at all, and will be taking up the matter with Washington.

Such dissent is, of course, not unexpected. But in the larger context of things, the agreement reached has considerable significance. It opens up the doors for an era of new relations between Iran and the West, pulling that country back into the mainstream. And it also has implications for Pakistan which this year reached an agreement with Iran to pipe in much needed gas from that country. The deal now reached over the development of Iran’s nuclear programme makes it more likely that sanctions may not be slapped on that project. This, of course, would be good news for all of us. The agreement can also serve as a lesson to Pakistan on the importance of being pragmatic rather than sentimental while formulating foreign policy and in relations with countries considered antagonists — a lesson much needed at this point in time.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2013.

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