Commentary: Tougher work needs to be done to ensure Iran nuclear deal not half-baked

After more than a decade of on-and-off talks, a long-anticipated Iranian nuclear deal has finally come into shape.

Yet this is not a time to celebrate as Iran and the international community should get ready for even tougher tasks to ensure the hard-earned agreement will not die halfway.

Undoubtedly, Tuesday's comprehensive deal has demonstrated a strong political will and flexibility of all negotiating parties -- Iran on the one hand and the sexpartite group of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany on the other.

If the deal could be effectively and loyally implemented, it could go down into the human history as an exceptionally successful example of solving one of the world's thorniest issues by peaceful and diplomatic means.

However, the international community should stay sober-minded as the road leading up to an out-and-out settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue is no less challenging than the strenuous negotiating process.

The first test is whether U.S. President Barack Obama can sell it to a skeptical and uncooperative Republican-controlled Congress when his presidency is already in the countdown and a new cycle of partisan politicking has been well under way.

The worries have already proven to be reasonable. Only hours after the announcement of the deal, many Congressional Republicans rushed to cry how bad and dangerous the deal is, while the White House wasted no time attacking back by threatening to use its veto power should the Congress try to block the implementation of the nuclear agreement.

Even if the Obama administration manages to get the accord approved by this Congress and lift the sanctions against Tehran, there is still a chance that the succeeding presidents and Congresses will walk away from the deal.

One of the key reasons that could motivate the U.S. government to backtrack on the nuclear deal in the future is Washington's closest ally in the Middle East, Israel.

Israel has a clear-cut position on the Iranian nuclear issue, as is shown by the extremely harsh words Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Cabinet members have habitually chosen to assail the deal both before and after its birth.

What is more vexatious is that Israel, which regards Iran as its arch-foe in the Middle East, does not just curse the deal all the time, but is likely to use every opportunity to sabotage it. And one of the Jewish state's most potent weapons to kill the deal is its strong lobbying power to sway Washington politics.

However, Israel has to understand that no deal could be perfect. It also has to know that an Iranian nuclear program that operates under verifiable international scrutiny is far better for Israel's national interests than leaving Tehran's nuclear activities unregulated or, like what it has suggested, simply resorting to military options to neutralize Iran's nuclear abilities.

Iran also has a lot of heavy-lifting and political balance to do. With the economic and trade sanctions poised to be removed under the deal, President Hassan Rouhani and his government could begin to rebuild the country's depressed economy.

But in Tehran, hardliners are not that easy to be convinced as the Islamic Republic has deep distrust toward Western powers, especially the United States, after decades of confrontation and mutual hostility.

Once the deal starts to be implemented, Iran is obligated to be fully cooperative with the international community to prove that it abides by the deal.

That means it should do things like allowing inspectors to some of its nuclear facilities, which would be quite convenient for the hawks to accuse Rouhani and his team of giving in too much to the West.

To help make sure that Iran follows through, members of the international community, particularly the United States and its Western allies, should make immediate efforts to eliminate suspicion and mistrust toward the country, with the first priority to lay the ground for easing sanctions. Of course, Tehran should also keep its words regarding the accord.

If all sides can truly honor their promises, they will find themselves handsomely rewarded by the end of the day. Endi