The US special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, told Reuters Sunday that an agreement to restore the Iran nuclear deal is unlikely to be reached if Americans detained in the Islamic Republic are not released.
Prisoner exchange deals with Iran have always been considered separate from nuclear deal negotiations. The US and Iran even agreed to a prisoner swap during the Trump administration.
“They’re separate and we’re pursuing both of them. But I will say it is very hard for us to imagine getting back into the nuclear deal while four innocent Americans are being held hostage by Iran,” he said.
“So even as we’re conducting talks with Iran indirectly on the nuclear file we are conducting, again indirectly, discussions with them to ensure the release of our hostages,” Malley added.
While he still insists the issues are separate, Malley’s comments suggest the Biden administration could use a failure to negotiate the release of the prisoners as an excuse not to lift sanctions on Iran and restore the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA.
Indirect JCPOA negotiations between the US and Iran are still ongoing in Vienna. US officials have said some progress has been made but have also been warning time is running out on the talks.
