DHAKA: Iran struck a historic deal on Sunday with the United States and five other world powers, agreeing to a temporary freeze of its nuclear programme in the most significant agreement between Washington and Tehran after more than three decades of estrangement.

The deal commits Iran to curb its nuclear activities for six months in exchange for limited and gradual sanctions relief.

The six-month period will give diplomats time to negotiate a more sweeping agreement.

It builds on the momentum of the public dialogue opened during September’s annual UN gathering, which included a 15-minute phone conversation between president Barack Obama and Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani.

Obama hailed the pact’s provisions, which include curbs on Iran’s enrichment and other projects that could be used to make nuclear arms, as key to preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear threat.

‘Simply put, they cut off Iran’s most likely paths to a bomb,’ he told reporters, according to The Times of India.

BDST: 1811 HRS, NOV 24, 2013