A deal with Iran could herald new era for the Middle East

A nuclear deal should be the means for the international community to engage Iran in addressing the difficult issues in the volatile region, writes Carl Bildt.

SLOWLY but surely, Iran’s talks with the international community about its nuclear programme are approaching the make-or-break point. But, more important, the outcome could mark a turning point for the wider, and increasingly volatile, Middle East.

The rapprochement between Iran and its negotiating partners on the core nuclear issue is obvious. No one at this point seriously believes that Iran is maintaining an active programme to develop nuclear weapons, though not long ago it was almost conventional wisdom that the country was close to having them.