nuclear deal

Despite the progress represented by the Iran nuclear deal, rising tensions between the U.S. and Russia, North Korea's nuclear tests and other conflicts mean the world is still close to catastrophe.

While negotiations over a nuclear deal between the United States and Iran began two years ago, smaller efforts for diplomacy go back to the last decade.

On Saturday, many sanctions on Iran were lifted under the nuclear pact, and the U.S. and Iran exchanged prisoners. On Sunday, the U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions over Iran's weapons program.

Secretary of State John Kerry said the move was "one of the most significant steps" in fulfilling the July nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers.

The bill must still be reviewed by a group of senior clerics, but President Hassan Rouhani's administration is hailing lawmakers' vote as a "historic decision."