Following reports of significant disagreements among members of the U.S. negotiating team with Iran in Vienna regarding the approach to be taken with Iran in the coming period, a senior member has left his position. An official from the U.S. State Department confirmed on Monday evening that Richard Nephew, the Deputy Special Envoy for Iran, is no longer part of the negotiating team, although he remains an employee of the department. The official did not provide a reason for Nephew's departure from the team but mentioned that personnel changes are "very common" after a year in office.
Disagreements Over Negotiation Strategy
This announcement came after the Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Nephew had resigned following internal disagreements within the U.S. negotiating team regarding Iran. It was noted that the departing member supported a stricter approach in the current negotiations, highlighting that the U.S. team is divided over the implementation of current sanctions and the timing of concluding negotiations with the Iranian side. The report also pointed out that the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to Iran and two other members had left the negotiating team. Furthermore, some members of the U.S. negotiating team had pushed for a withdrawal from negotiations last December.
Critical Moment
Nephew's departure comes at a critical juncture, as the United States and its European allies have stated that there are only a few weeks left to save the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, which allowed for the lifting of many sanctions imposed on Iran in exchange for limiting its nuclear activities and ensuring the peaceful nature of its program. However, its effects have been suspended since the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 under former President Donald Trump, with Tehran gradually stepping back from most of its commitments under the deal. It is worth mentioning that indirect nuclear talks resumed between Iran and the United States about two months ago.
