DHAKA: Prominent Iranian-Americans praised the Iranian nuclear deal as a significant first step in what they hope will be a broader rapprochement between Iran and the international community.

While the deal will give a psychological boost to many Iranians and provide momentum to moderate Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, some Iranian-Americans cautioned, improvements in the country’s economy and in its treatment of dissidents will not occur overnight.

The agreement reached early Sunday has at least the potential to become a milestone, said Reza Aslan, an Iranian-born scholar of religion and author of the book ‘Zealot’, reports The Jerusalem Post.

BDST: 1220 HRS, NOV 25, 2013