Doha Forum 2022: US Special Envoy for Iran Expresses Doubt on Status of Iran Nuclear Deal

Doha, March 27 (QNA) - US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley said on Sunday that he is not confident that a nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran was imminent, dampening expectations after 11 months of talks. During a dialogue session held on Sunday within the Doha Forum, Malley said that a deal has been close for a long time and so it doesn't mean both sides were close to an agreement. He did maintain however that a deal was still possible. "I cannot be confident it is imminent - few months ago we thought we were pretty close as well," he continued, adding that "in any negotiations, when there is issues that remain open for so long, it tells you something about how hard it is to bridge the gap." Regarding the guarantees demanded by Iran, US Special Envoy for Iran said that "the best guarantee of a deal that will last is to get into it as soon as possible and to make it work, but we cannot make any assurance or representation about what a future administration may do - that is the nature of our system." "If Iran remains in compliance with the deal, the US will be in compliance with the deal," he said, adding that "Iran will benefit during these years from the lifting of those sanctions" and that "Iranians will also have a better economy during these years." He pointed out that the sooner they return to the agreement, the more it is in their interest as well as Iran's, and that if the agreement is reached, they will abide by it, pointing out the ability of building on it to address other issues between the US, Iran and the region. On delisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the US sanctions list, the US Special Envoy for Iran said that this deal is not related to the IRGC and that the IRGC will remain under sanctions, noting that their policy and opinion on it will not change. In response to another question, Malley indicated that they have not yet decided to remove the IRGC from the terrorist list, adding that a lot of sanctions will stay active regardless of what happens with the IRGC. He stressed that his country will conclude a deal with Iran if their conditions are adhered to, and that this has nothing to do with the oil market, as the matter is related to security concerns and nothing else, affirming that the US will continue to work with countries in the region to reduce tensions regardless of the nuclear agreement with Iran. US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley pointed out to efforts to create more ties and enhance the security of the countries of the region, adding that these efforts will not retreat if the Vienna talks on the Iranian nuclear file collapse. (QNA)