What prompted Rob Malley's dismissal? A letter, Tehran Times reveals
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Tehran Times reveals that Malley had breached three US national security rules ahead of his suspension.
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Robert Malley, US Special Envoy for Iran, is shown on June 20, 2021, in Vienna, Austria. (AP)
Tehran Times exclusively reported in July that former US envoy to Iran Rob Malley's security clearance was stopped on April 21 by violating three US national security standards.
Many on Capitol Hill were outraged, prompting them to seek detailed explanations from the Biden administration over the suspension of Malley's security clearance. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul demanded answers on Malley in a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
McCaul wrote that Malley was placed on unpaid leave "after his security clearance was suspended earlier this year amidst an investigation into potential mishandling of classified documents,” detailing that the reports "raise serious concerns both regarding Malley's conduct and whether the State Department misled Congress and the American public."
Read more: US Congress demands info on probe into Iran envoy suspension
McCaul also chastised the State Department for neglecting to inform Congress of the entire facts surrounding Malley's situation.
Despite congressional pressure, the Biden administration failed to disclose details surrounding the suspension.
Malley's actions inconsistent with interest of US national security
A memorandum obtained by Tehran Times indicates that Malley jeopardized US national security.
The memorandum was sent on April 21 by Erin Smart, the head of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office of Personnel Security and Suitability. In it, Smart explained that Malley's "continued national security eligibility is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security."
The document also details three areas in which he did so, which include activities involving personal behavior, management of sensitive information, and use of information technology.
Smart sternly noted that “the DS Office of Personnel Security (DS/SI/PSS) has received information regarding you that raises serious security concerns and can be disqualifying under National Security Adjudicative Guidelines E (Personal Conduct), K (Handling of Protected Information), and M (Use of Information Technology)."
Afterward, Smart demanded Malley turn in his ID card, as well as any government-issued credentials and his diplomatic passport.
Although the memorandum does not list examples of how Malley's conduct endangered US national security or mishandled protected information, Tehran Times previously reported that Malley's suspicious contact with his aides of Iranian descent contributed to his downfall.
Before taking office, Malley had substantial interaction with a web of Iranian-American individuals ranging from Ali Vaez and Vali Nasr to Trita Parsi. His son continues to work with Parsi at the Quincy Institute.
According to a previous Tehran Times investigation, Malley maintained regular touch with at least Vaez during his term as Iran's ambassador.
Tehran Times previously reported on a secret memo detailing Malley and Vaez's behind-the-scenes plans to organize a coup in Iran amid the Mahsa Amini riots in 2022.
According to the paper, Vaez compiled a list of 14 Iranian personalities as part of the State Department's larger campaign to increase pressure on Iran. The list featured prominent opponents, as well as others unknown to the public.
Last December, Malley expressed that the United States will be focusing on a number of other things rather than reviving the nuclear deal with Iran.
In an interview for Bloomberg, Malley said Washington will be focusing on supporting rioters in Iran - which John Bolton recently admitted to them being armed - and on alleged Iranian arms supplies to Russia.
