The US-Iran deal has partially lifted uncertainty over the conflict, but many issues remain unresolved. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
After countless false starts, the US and Iran have finally agreed a deal. Both sides have predictably claimed victory. President Trump declared: "This Great Deal will bring Peace and Security to the whole Region." Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi hailed his country's military achievements as he confirmed that the Memorandum of Understanding had been signed.
All sides, including the mediator Pakistan, say the deal will see the lifting of both Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade of Iranian ports, although this may not be immediate. That will go some way to relieving pressure on President Trump over the harm to the global economy caused by the former, while Iran's collapsing economy will gain some relief from the latter.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who first announced the deal, said the agreement also calls for the "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon." However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown no sign of being prepared to end Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Twice in the past week, Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut came close to derailing the process. Iran only just pulled back from responding with another missile attack on Israel to get the deal across the line.
It is unclear if the agreement will provide a respite to Lebanon, where two recent ceasefires have failed. But for Iran's Arab Gulf neighbours, there will be relief that the threat of Iranian missiles targeting them could end.
As for the most essential element from the US perspective—guarantees preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon—it is unclear how far this agreement goes. Iranian state media reports suggest such a mechanism may have been set up, but that will need clarification and is likely to be the subject of intense negotiation after the deal is signed.
The signing ceremony is still several days away. With all the dramatic twists and turns, no one can be sure the path will be straightforward. But for now, some of the uncertainty over the conflict has at least been partially lifted.