There have been positive signals that the Iranian nuclear issue might finally be on its way to being peacefully resolved.

Although the weekend talks in Geneva between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany failed to produce an agreement, the US Secretary of State John Kerry told the BBC on Monday they came "extremely close" to a breakthrough.

Also on Monday, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency signed a cooperation deal, which opens the way for UN inspectors to gain better access to two key nuclear sites in Iran. Teheran also said the issue of the Parchin site would be addressed in "subsequent steps" under its new framework with the IAEA.

Since his election in June, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has shown willingness to improve ties with the United States, which has responded positively to his overtures. If not hand in hand, at least the US and Iran seem finally to be walking in the same direction.

If Iran and the P5+1 build on the good momentum at their next meeting on Nov 20, hopefully there might be concrete results. This in turn would raise the possibility of Iran playing a more constructive role in the Syrian crisis and Afghanistan.

Considering that the enmity between Iran and the West has lasted for more than three decades and world powers have been in talks with the Islamic country for 10 years, it is unrealistic to expect such a complicated issue to be resolved with one stroke.

Sincerity, flexibility and patience are necessary to reduce the mistrust that exists between them, and talks are the only way for both sides to agree on ways to move forward.

(China Daily 11/13/2013 page8)