Nuclear Deal negotiations tenuous at best: US Special Envoy for Iran

The US Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, declared, on Wednesday, the prospects of a Nuclear Deal with Tehran to be tenuous at best. Malley told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the chances of a deal agreement are slim however, the US and its European partners are persuaded they can arrange for limited sanctions relief on Iran in exchange for a rollback by the latter on its nuclear program.

"The bottom line is that we are convinced, as are all our European partners, that we can both provide limited sanctions relief in exchange for Iran taking important steps to roll back and constrain its nuclear program, and still use the vast reservoir of remaining sanctions and other tools at our disposal to pressure and target its other dangerous activities," Malley elaborated.

The Envoy insisted that regardless of whether the two countries will reach an agreement or not, the Iranian government will continue to pose a threat to American interests.

“We hope to get back into the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. If we don't, you will see continued sanctions enforcement, tighten sanctions’ enforcement, you will see intensified action with allies and partners, but all of that is continuing again regardless of whether we get back into the JCPOA,” Malley told a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Envoy concluded that being at the table of discussion does not tie the US or Iran's hands. In this regard, Malley noted that the US will treat Iran with reciprocity – if they decide to take any action against them – despite Washington imposing continuous and regular sanctions on Iran.