The long-term and comprehensive nuclear agreement reached on July 14 between Iran and P5+1 - China, the US, Russia, France, the UK plus Germany - should be applauded for opening a new channel of peace for not only the Middle East, but also the whole world.

The deal ended a 13-year marathon on the Iranian nuclear issue, showing diplomacy and dialogue is the way to tackle thorny regional and global issues.

For the two main players in the issue, Iran and the United States, the agreement has created a stage which they could use to thaw their more than three decades of icy relationship. Yes, the two countries still have many fundamental differences, but that only means they should meet with each other more often to resolve them.