Iran tangos with the West

Minutes after Iran and the major world powers announced reaching an agreement to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions against the country, a text message began making the rounds on Iranian mobile phones. It read: "Goodbye, Falafel. Hello, McDonald's." Another text joked: "Iran's ATMs would soon be dispensing U.S. Dollars instead of Iranian Rials." An Iranian space-lover even tweeted: "The deal was made as the spacecraft New Horizons just whizzed past Pluto."
Iranians may be fed up with eating 'Falafel', a popular Iranian snack of deep-fried ball of ground chickpeas and beans, and may like to savour McDonald's 'Double Cheeseburger' for a change of their taste. They may want an end to continuous depreciation of Rial against US Dollar. Some even may have taken the deal as a divine gift from a celestial body like Pluto. Coincidentally, New Horizons reached on Tuesday a point nearest to Pluto, the dwarf planet, at around the same time the Iranian deal was struck and the spacecraft's 10-year journey from the earth started in 2006, exactly the same year when the UN Security Council passed a resolution and imposed sanctions against Iran after the country refused to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
A new McDonald's outlet may not be set up in Iran anytime soon. ATMs in Iran will continue dispensing Rials the value of which may boost a little higher now that the sanctions are gone. And the blessings from Pluto could be a fanciful tale of superstition. But there is no doubt ordinary Iranians have been ecstatic and quick to welcome the deal as a chance to end their nation's isolation and improve their country's economy after painful years of stifling sanctions. Residents in Tehran honked their horns in celebration.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke of "a new chapter" in relations with the outside world. President Barack Obama shrugged off criticism that he had been naïve is seeking a compromise with Iran, saying the agreement was not built on trust, but on verification.
But Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as usual, condemned the deal as a "stunning historic mistake," saying it would not prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons capability.
Israel may protest the deal and fling dire warnings on the possibility of nuclear proliferation. But all of his warning will fall on deaf ears when all the members of the Security Council will surely endorse the deal when it would be placed before the United Nations.
America's closest allies, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, will, however, remain Iran's most committed foes. And many observers see Tehran as an adversary that needs to be contained, despite hopes that the deal might eventually pave the way for greater cooperation.
The historic nuclear deal marks a milestone in Iran's relations with the world. After years of haggling and brinkmanship the negotiators on behalf of all the six major world powers have at long last convinced their Iranian counterparts to draw a line that could greatly curb Iran's nuclear programme.
Iranians may now hope for a normal relationship with America that has been embittered since the Iranian revolution of 1979. Young Iranians who may be eager to visit America for touring purpose or for studying in an American university have reasons to celebrate the event. But the older generation, the conservatives, and some of their indoctrinated supporters are not apparently happy at yielding to the West forsaking a chance to build a nuclear weapon.
The world has now nothing to fear about a nuclear threat from Iran as it is quite obvious that Iran has neither the capability nor the stubbornness to develop a nuclear weapon, let alone the audacity to invade a country even if it can somehow procure such a weapon. History records Iran has not been the aggressor in any war for over 150 years.
To save the world from a nuclear holocaust, all countries have to be compelled indiscriminately to shun their nuclear capabilities and weapons.
Many observers believe Iranian nuclear agreement has been a fair deal. The deal is a step toward a more rational relationship between nations, a step toward a controlled nuclear world, and a symbol of respect between former adversaries.
It is time for America to look forward to establishing a good relationship with Iran since the country seems willing to make some major changes in its nuclear planning. Lifting the oil embargo against Iran will also be beneficial to the West economically.
We live in a world beset with perils and surrounded by more foes than friends. Iran is here to stay, Israel is here to stay, radical Muslims are here to stay and, regrettably, nukes are also here to stay.  Anger, rhetoric, revenge --  these are all emotional responses to fear, and nations and their leaders must restrain themselves from reacting out of fear.
Iran should seize this opportunity to move forward, open up and liberalise its attitude toward the West. Iran can be a better partner for the West. The agreement is a proof that nations can ditch the embellishments of sabre-rattling and fear-mongering, and do something that actually makes the world a safer place, no matter how much temporarily.
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