Biden administration appoints Robert Malley as special envoy to Iran
The US State Department has appointed Robert Malley, a member of Barack Obama's team in the nuclear talks with Iran, as the special representative for Iran. Malley will lead the team that will be responsible for advancing negotiations with Iran.
The Biden administration has named Robert Malley, a member of the Iran negotiating team on the nuclear deal, as the U.S. special envoy for Iran. The veteran diplomat will play a pivotal role in one of the new administration’s toughest and most contentious policy challenges, a senior State Department official told Reuters on Thursday.
Mali was a key member of Barack Obama's team in the nuclear negotiations that led to the 2015 JCPOA agreement, an agreement that Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018 despite strong opposition from the United States' European allies.
“Blinken has assembled a dedicated team of experienced experts with diverse perspectives. The team, which is also our special representative for Iran, will be led by Robert Malley, who has a successful track record in negotiating to limit Iran’s nuclear program,” said a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The State Department official added that Blinken is confident that Mali and his team will be able to do it again (limit Iran's nuclear program).
When Mali was first announced as a candidate for special envoy to Iran, some Republicans and pro-Israel groups in the US House of Representatives opposed him. They believe that Mali is not tough enough on Iran and has a harder line on Israel. But a number of senior diplomats have defended him, calling him a reputable and non-partisan diplomat.
With this appointment, Mali will be a central figure in advancing Biden's efforts to negotiate with Iran. He previously served as the head of the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental organization focused on international crises.
Mali held various positions in the Obama and Clinton administrations focusing on the Middle East and the Gulf States, and was also an informal advisor to Joe Biden's campaign team.
Source: DW
