Deal with Iran shows constructive composure

After eight days of marathon talks, Iran and the P5+1 world powers have hammered out a milestone agreement to address the Iranian nuclear issue. A framework nuclear deal was inked between the two sides on Thursday, paving the way for a comprehensive accord by June 30 that could put an end to the 12-year-old standoff between Teheran and the West.

The hard-won agreement, reached two days after the deadline, in Lausanne, Switzerland, underscores the involved parties' strong political will, diplomatic flexibility and pragmatism in breaking the impasse.

Since the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty took effect in 1970, the international community has made painstaking efforts to reduce the risks of nuclear proliferation. By any standards, the framework nuclear deal is historical as it marks a significant step in building a world free of nuclear weapons.