The Iranian deal

After years of thorny negotiations, Iran and the P5+1 countries, consisting of five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany, finally reached an agreement on July 14 to control Iranian nuclear enrichment program. 

Regardless of the heavy criticism from hardliners on both sides and regional powers, especially Israel, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is a genuine historic achievement, particularly for the U.S. President Barack Obama, who has been trying to reach a deal with Iran since he came to power. It is also a significant step for Iran's reintegration into the regional and international system after years of isolation. 
The agreement though will have repercussions for the regional balance of power. According to the detailed and highly technical JCPOA, Iran agreed to limit its amount and level of uranium enrichment, eliminate or transfer its stockpile of enriched uranium and continue its limited-level enrichment activities in a designated location. 

In return, Iran will get gradual relief from the sanctions the U.N. Security Council has imposed since 2006 and unfreeze some of its foreign assets following extensive surveillance on its enrichment sites.

Although there are criticisms over the time limitations of the agreement or the lack of "anywhere, anytime" access clause, which is perceived as a cheating opportunity for Iran, the agreement will enable greater oversight of the Iranian nuclear program by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Despite its perceived shortcomings, reaching an agreement between global powers and Iran through negotiations is an important success for diplomacy. It will curb Iranian enrichment activities for at least fifteen years. 

It is still early to see whether...