North Korea launches a long-range rocket, the first day of its announced eight-day launch window and about a month after the country's fourth nuclear test leads to international condemnation.

Post World War II power balance between Zionist Israel and Arab-Persian Muslim countries, who considered Israel as a “pushed in state” in Middle East, is now being replaced in the post-Iran treaty era by an emerging strategic balance between Iran on one side, and Israel plus Gulf Arab countries on the other side.

Critics of the upcoming accord have pointed out that Iran will not play by the rules and may continue a covert programme for uranium enrichment outside designated nuclear facilities covered under the agreement.

From the Iranian perspective, optimists see Iran's gains in a number of ways. The ailing economy of Iran which was caused by western sanctions will now get a chance to improve.

Bridging the gap between Iran and the West would help soften Iran's present voice against Israel through a possible political and social transformation in favour of the West.

The only thing to lament about the agreement reached by Iran and the P5+1 (the UN Security Council's five permanent members – China, Britain, France, Russia, and the United States – plus Germany) in Vienna this month is that it was not signed and sealed a decade ago.

The US Congress has 60 days to review the agreement. During that time, President Obama cannot lift the sanctions.

Rouhani and his allies are unable to offer ordinary Iranians economic hope – a failure that causes them to lose both the legislative and presidential elections.

After the marathon 18-day Vienna talks a historic deal was signed on Tuesday between Iran and six global powers -- the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

POLITICAL develop-ments in the Middle East are changing and dynamics of realpolitik is at play on the heels of Tehran's recent framework

AFTER 18 months of gruelling negotiations, Iran and the P-5+1 (United States, France, Britain, China, Russia—and Germany) reached a

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems close to ordering a general mobilization of his country's military, and Republicans in the United States are preparing for a ferocious battle with President Barack Obama's administration, in the wake of the framework nuclear agreement with Iran.

Bangladesh welcomes the understanding reached between Iran and five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany on key parameters of a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear programme.

THERE'S many a slip twixt the cup and the lip,” goes the old English proverb.

AFTER years of protracted, often chequered, negotiations with Iran on nuclear regimen, a framework agreement has been inked between Tehran and US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany, known as P5+1.

Foreign ministers from six world powers and their Iranian counterpart negotiate in Switzerland on the Iran's Nuclear Programme and the talks are to reach a preliminary agreement on final day of the talks.