Vienna

Diplomats and analysts say the longer Iran remains outside the deal, the more nuclear expertise it will gain.

“Whoever thinks an agreement will increase stability is wrong,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said.

The move adds to uncertainty over Iran's nuclear activities while indirect talks between Tehran and Washington on saving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage.

Diplomats say negotiations are progressing but moving too slowly to reach an agreement before restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities contained in the 2015 deal have been irreversibly hollowed out.

That the first JCPOA was a total failure, thanks to Iranian violations and loophole-manipulations, did not put a dent in Team Biden’s resolve to resuscitate it. This isn’t surprising.

Is one man more important than the US, EU and Israel on the Iran nuclear issue?

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Monday that Nephew has left the team and did not participate in the Vienna talks since early December, citing differences of opinions within the team.

Western diplomats have previously indicated they were hoping to have a breakthrough over the next few weeks, but sharp differences remain with the toughest issues still unresolved.

"The hostage crisis hasn't ended for many others: Americans and Westerners who are now being held as bargaining chips in Iran. There are at least two dozen of them."

China became a lifeline for Iran's economy after the US withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear agreement agreed between major powers and Tehran.