How close are US and Iran to signing a deal?

News about an initial agreement between the US and Iran was never so positive as it is now. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif enthused that a deal was ready for signing on Sunday last. Evidently, that did not happen and yet the two warring sides are closer than ever before to signing a memorandum of understanding any time soon. US officials claimed on Friday last that 'the deal met Trump's core objectives'. Agreements on several vital points have been reached to the satisfaction of both parties. One such agreement is that the US would start releasing billions of US dollars in frozen Iranian assets. Also significantly, the US would withdraw sanction on Iran's oil exports. On its part, Iran will open the Hormuz Strait. This is good news not only for the warring parties but also for the countries in the region and beyond, particularly for those, like Bangladesh, depending on the fuel oil supply from the Middle East.
However, the most contending issue---Iran's nuclear programme---would be placed for 60-day negotiation. The two sides still have disagreement on this issue. While the US expresses its optimism about dismantling of Iran's nuclear programme and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium would be 'destroyed and removed', Iran on its part disagrees. It is ready to concede to the extent of retaining uranium in diluted form. Both sides have softened their previous positions but still there is a long way to go before they come to terms on this bone of contention. It is a good sign that both sides are showing interest in pursuing peace instead of continuing hostility.
Unconfirmed reports say that negotiations would be conducted on war reparations for Iran and 'dropping longstanding US demands for limits on Iran's missile programme'. The US side ruled out the possibility of this happening. Either way, the negotiations should be carried on in the interest of the warring parties and keeping the supply line of fuels open for the world economy. Economies of many countries are bleeding for higher prices of petroleum products. Trump's reciprocal trade tariff had made the matter worse before the price of fossil fuels started soaring to new highs. The entire world is looking forward to peaceful global trading in the interest of the nations reeling from the oil shock.
Trump's brinkmanship has pushed economies, trade and social welfare across the globe on the verge of collapse. Now is the time for ending the hostility and aggressive trade policies for reverting to normal international relations. It appears that the US president has realised that his actions have caused undesirable sufferings for countries with no part in the war and also his own country. War is no solution to international disputes. There is no problem that cannot be solved through negotiations. The contentious issues between US and Iran can as well be solved this way. In this context, Israeli intransigence in defiance of Trump's call for cessation of hostility in Lebanon should make Trump realise how he has been dragged into the war. If Trump is serious, he can prevail upon the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in resolving the crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. Without solving these problems, any peace deal in the region will remain tenuous.