The Obama administration is making history one day after the other. After his historic announcement of commencing diplomatic relations with Cuba, his negotiating team concluded an agreement with Iran that is supposed to prevent it from attaining a nuclear weapon, or delay it a decade or so. The news of the nuclear deal was met with the contrast of ecstasy and fury, which is predictable. The more liberal and dovish folks were overjoyed that US was reaching out to an adversary, while the more conservative and hawkish were outraged by the surrendering weakness.

The nuclear deal is a great development indeed, if only a cosmetic one. It would hopefully end a lot of economic sanctions that have made the lives of Iranians miserable for decades, thanks to the rigidity of both the Iranian clerics and US congressmen. It could open the doors for more Iranian oil to the global market, which is only a good thing, and basically make Iran a much greater part of the international community than it already is. Especially in terms of trade, all of which is great news for the proponent of capitalism, free markets, and free trade.

Only someone who badly hates Iran for no reason would consider these possibilities to be bad ideas. As I write these lines, future business opportunities are being discussed on American cable networks. Though Secretary Kerry still thinks economic sanctions is a good idea, as they brought Iran to the negotiating table. True to a great extent, but cruel to the millions of bright Iranian people.

At the same time this deal would offer a lot of fodder to the Republican presidential candidates to prove the weakness of President Obama and his lack of commitment to the security of Israel. Will the AIPAC buy it or not is another thing, but it sure offers some great political point scoring. Back at home, the Republican presidential candidates are making a big deal out of it, as if we have brought Armageddon upon ourselves.

Israel is going ballistic too, as expected. Prime Minister Netanyahu calls it a “historic mistake.” Liberals in the west can largely dismiss Netanyahu’s perpetual paranoia as partisan view. But can we really ignore the fact that all the statements of disapproval are coming from Israel’s state office? And can we really ignore that US-Israeli relations have suffered? So is there something wrong?

What to really make of this nuclear deal?

How should we respond to it? Well, pretty much like the Pakistani state did in my opinion. Welcome it. But also with healthy skepticism that it has been met with on the both sides of the aisle in the United States. Even many Democrat leaders are finding it hard to buy, because it is just so unprecedented.

You can respond to it whatever way you feel like, celebrate or mourn, but for someone who would be concerned about the future of the security of the region, there is not much to do but to follow the approach of cautious optimism that the deal will be honored by everyone. Both Iran and the West. Alright, we had our great moment of peace. Now what?

A lot of credit of this deal goes to the Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif, who is hardly anything like we have seen from Iran before. A very smart man, apparently very good at his job, who would make you feel as if nothing in the world is wrong with Iran when he speaks with his characteristic confidence, that is almost condescending. Critics could say that it’s a quality that Secretary Kerry apparently lacks completely, with his perpetually apologetic demeanor. Though Zarif does give great insight about how to deal with the Iranian people, who would defy resistance, but are willing to take a step forward when offered respect. Maybe the Republicans, conservatives, and Israelis should learn something from the advice. I would be really excited if Zarif becomes President one day.

But a lot more credit goes to the United States for actually reaching out, especially with a Republican Congress in charge, which is already making lame threats to vote against the deal in the face of a veto. There may be celebrations in Tehran, but the real party that has made any concessions about this deal is the United States and deserves the credit of the peacemaker. As some Republican leaders put it, the United States could have been a lot tougher with its terms, but that is easier said than done, considering how long and difficult these marathon negotiations have been.

Imagine the disappointment if the negotiations ended without a result. It is also very easy to comment when you are not involved in the negotiating process or even understand what the deal is.

But is everything good now? Is it the euphoria of finding utopia? Well far from it.

Everyone should respect Iran, but it is also important to review its diplomatic record, and the respect it has for the rest of the world.

Pakistani center left and progressive liberals, as is the case of some commentators in the West, tend to forget the role of Iran in their rightful condemnation of Saudi Arabia. Just as Saudi Arabia is alleged to export terrorism to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Iran has been doing the same for decades in the region, especially with its anti-Israel proxies, and lately backing militancy in Yemen. Something which makes perfect sense to enforce an arms embargo on Iran.

Furthermore, what makes Iran more dangerous than Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states, that are equally guilty of violation of human rights, is its downright condemnation of Israel. Iran is a state that offers official sanction to slogans like “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” and occasionally follows up on the latter with anti-Israeli militancy.

Iran also thinks it is okay to “erase Israel off the world map,” and apparently sanctioning anti-Semitism as a state policy, while the Arab states have largely been at peace with Israel of late, and even agree with it about the threat of a nuclear Iran. I don’t recall the last time the evil Saudis talked about destroying Israel in recent memory. So diplomacy is not all about not speaking to everyone “based on the human rights record.”

In the end, it is important to remember that the deal is largely about Iran. It is not appropriate to make it about the person of President Obama, though it is his diplomatic accomplishment, unless you are a Republican politician or an American voter, which is where that line of action would make sense.  It is also very important not to doubt the intentions or sincerity to the pursuit of peace, even that of the Iranians.

It is important to keep everyone’s eyes on Iran and that it must not retract from the articles that it has agreed to. If you listen to Foreign Minister Zarif, you would be absolutely convinced that Iran is not even thinking about building a bomb.

But it is the actions of the Iranian regime that we should be willing to believe, not its promises.