U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed Thursday that Robert Malley, the U.S. special envoy for Iranian affairs, “is on leave” and Abram Bailey is assuming his duties and leading the State Department’s work in the field.

For his part, Malli said on Thursday that his “security clearance is under review” and that he expects the investigation to conclude “soon with a positive outcome”.

According to Reuters, “I have been informed that my security clearance is under review. I have no other information available, but I expect the investigation to be concluded soon with a favorable outcome.”

“Meanwhile, I’m on vacation,” he added, confirming a tweet to a reporter from the news website Axios.

Malli, who participated in former US President Bill Clinton’s efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians in 2000 and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, was appointed special envoy to Iran in January 2021.

According to the Reuters news agency, it is “unclear what the holiday will mean” for efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

Mali has led the Biden administration’s efforts to renew the nuclear deal with Iran, which would curb its nuclear program.

Iranian and Western officials said earlier this month that the U.S. had held talks with Iran to “reduce tensions” by listing ways to curb Iran’s nuclear program, release some detained American citizens and free some Iranian citizens after efforts to renew the deal failed. Assets abroad.