WASHINGTON and the major European powers have reached closer to an interim nuclear deal with Iran to end a decade-long stand-off with Tehran on its nuclear programme. If American and European diplomats meeting the Iranian foreign minister in Geneva succeed in negotiating a breakthrough with Tehran, and if the latter agrees to curb its nuclear activities, it will pave the way for some relief where the economic sanctions in place are concerned. And if matters progress smoothly, a permanent agreement and removal of sanctions can follow. Though US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters in the Swiss city that some very important issues remain unresolved, there is reason to believe that both sides are eager to bridge their differences. After his telephonic conversation with the new Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani in September — the first direct contact between the leaders of Iran and the US since 1979 — President Barack Obama said that discussion with his Iranian counterpart showed a “basis for resolution” of the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The agreement between Iran and the US will indeed be a positive development from Pakistan’s perspective as well. Islamabad has vested interests in the success of the ongoing negotiations. The removal of sanctions on Iran will ease concerns in Islamabad that the plan to import Fars gas through a pipeline could invite similar restrictions on Pakistan. Besides, it will help Pakistan raise international money, the lack of which is the second biggest obstacle, after pressure from the US, in the way of completing the pipeline on its side of the border. Although Iran’s oil minister had recently cast doubts on the pipeline’s future, later statements from Tehran were encouraging enough to revive hopes that the project had not been written off despite the repeated delays caused by Pakistan’s weakened enthusiasm. If Iran arrives at a nuclear deal with Washington and Pakistan successfully raises funds for the project, we may start receiving the much-needed Iranian gas in a little more than a year.