INTERIM no doubt, it’s a breakthrough, nevertheless. The deal clinched by Iran and P5+1 on Sunday in Geneva does give Tehran some relief on sanctions in return for Tehran to slow down if not scrap its nuclear programme. The agreement is historic and could determine the future course of the West’s relationship with Iran. More importantly, it is likely to survive because both sides have welcomed it. While President Barack Obama said the agreement would prevent Iran from making nuclear weapons, Iranian negotiator Mohammad Javad Zarif pledged to abide by it but made clear the measures visualised in the accord were “reversible”, though he hoped Iran would not have to use this option. More significant, however, were Mr Zarif’s remarks that the deal would restore trust between Iran and the West. For President Hassan Rouhani it is a diplomatic triumph, for the agreement would not have been possible without the blessings of spiritual leader Ali Khamenei. This should help him counter hardliners at home.

The accord halts a greater part of Iran’s nuclear programme and aims to prevent Tehran from expanding it. Specifically, it lays down a 5pc cent limit beyond which Iran will not enrich uranium, and “neutralise” the existing stock above the 5pc ceiling. Similarly, the agreement cripples Iran’s ability to produce plutonium because it forbids Tehran from further developing the Arak nuclear plant. There is no doubt the implementation of the agreement will be carefully monitored, for Tehran has pledged to give inspectors greater access, if necessary on a daily basis, to all nuclear sites. On its part, the West will slap no further sanctions during the six-month ‘watch’ period and give Iran sanctions relief worth $7bn — a pitifully small amount for the world’s fourth largest oil producer. Israel called the accord “a mistake”, and some Gulf monarchies have reacted negatively. President Obama, too, is likely to encounter difficulties in selling the deal to Congress. But six months of monitoring should give results and remove the critics’ misgivings.

For Pakistan, the Geneva deal opens up new possibilities for going ahead with the gas pipeline. It has been delayed for too long because of American pressure. Now that a breakthrough has been made, it is time Islamabad took up the construction of the Pakistani part of the pipeline in earnest and expedited the completion of the project. Pakistan’s energy crisis is severe, and a timely flow of Iranian gas should help it plug the current gap between demand and supply.