Former Iran Nuclear Negotiator Argues Trump's 2018 Deal Withdrawal Blocked Path to Lasting Peace
Robert Malley, who negotiated the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and now directs the Middle East program at the International Crisis Group, discussed U.S.-Iran ceasefire prospects nearly two months after the two countries agreed to a truce. According to the analysis, Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw the United States from the nuclear agreement was, in Malley's characterization, "completely reckless" and derailed diplomatic momentum. The source argues this withdrawal has complicated current efforts to achieve a durable peace settlement between the nations.
Verified
- ✓Robert Malley worked on Iran nuclear deal negotiations in Democratic administrations. (Democracy Now, public record)
- ✓Malley currently serves as Middle East program director at the International Crisis Group. (ICG public roster)
- ✓The U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire nearly two months before this interview (as of May 2026). (Mainstream reporting, 65 articles)
Interpretation
- ~Trump's 2018 withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal was 'completely reckless.' (Malley's characterization, not independently verified judgment)
- ~The withdrawal has impeded progress toward lasting peace between the U.S. and Iran. (Malley's analytical argument)
▸▾Why this is here
- Source
- @democracynow
- Source type
- Independent News (Tier 4)
- Content type
- Analysis
- Confidence
- Analysis
- Coverage
- 0 of 15 major US outlets
- Published
- May 29, 2026 at 11:42 AM PDT
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