A Middle East Eye correspondent in Tehran writes:

Efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal, which has been moribund since Washington withdrew under President Donald Trump in 2018, began showing promise in September, when the US engaged with Iran in an attempt to ease tensions.

Those discussions were aimed at outlining steps to limit Iran’s nuclear programme, secure the release of detained US citizens in the Islamic Republic, and unfreeze some Iranian assets abroad.

However, just when it was reported that Iran and the US were nearing a temporary deal that would swap some sanctions relief for Iran reducing its uranium enrichment activities, Malley disappeared.

Sources in Tehran told Middle East Eye that Malley’s dismissal had pleased both hardliners in Tehran and individuals in the United States opposed to a return to the accord.

A source in Tehran told MEE that “certain hardline and influential elements within Tehran and out of government, without President Ebrahim Raisi’s consent and awareness, had cooperated with anti-deal circles in [Washington] DC to fabricate information about Malley”. [Continue reading…]