The U.S. and Taliban signed an agreement on a phased U.S. military drawdown, Taliban guarantees to sever ties with terrorist groups and swift initiation of peace negotiations among Afghan parties to the war. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remarked that “no one is under any illusion that this will be straightforward. We have built an important base where can begin to bring American soldiers home, reduce the risk of the loss of life of any American in Afghanistan, and hopefully set the conditions so the Afghan people can build out a peaceful resolution to their now, what for them, is a 40-year struggle”.  Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif opined that “after nineteen years of humiliation, the U.S. has tendered its surrender. Whether in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq or Yemen, the U.S. is the problem. It will leave – while leaving a huge mess behind”.