President Biden’s special envoy to Iran had his security clearance suspended earlier this year after “serious” issues were raised internally about his handling of “protected material,” according to a leaked State Department memo published over the weekend by Iranian media.
Robert Malley was placed on unpaid leave effective at the end of June, but the State Department declined to say why, drawing attention from congressional Republicans.
The Tehran Times, an English-language daily newspaper believed to have close ties to the theocracy’s foreign ministry, purportedly shed light on the matter Sunday by publishing an April 21 memo labeled “sensitive but unclassified” and addressed to Malley from Erin Smart, director of the Office Security and Fitness of Personnel in the Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
In the memo, Smart wrote that the office “has received information about you that raises serious security concerns and could result in disqualification under National Security Adjudicative Guidelines E (Personal Conduct), K (Handling Protected Information) and M (Use of Information Technology ).
The Tehran Times – Iran’s state media outlet – has published a “Sensitive But Unclassified” memo to Iranian Ambassador Rob Malley explaining why his release was suspended.
The letter looks authentic to me. Shows Malley also lied about not knowing why his clearance was pulled. pic.twitter.com/cpzUnan4Ex
— Gabriel Noronha (@GLNoronha) August 27, 2023
Robert Malley is one of President Biden’s key people in dealing with Iran.AP
The memo did not disclose Malley’s specific conduct and outlined his discharge was only suspended, not revoked.
The Post has not independently verified the authenticity of the memo.
“We are aware of this report,” a State Department spokesperson told The Post Monday afternoon. “The department does not comment on internal matters. Rob Malley remains on vacation. We have nothing more to share at this time due to privacy considerations.”
Princeton would very much like Robert Malley to join the institution.AP
However, Gabriel Noronha, a former State Department adviser on Iran, tweeted on Sunday afternoon that the published document “looks authentic to me [and] [i]shows Malley also lied about not knowing why his clearance was pulled. “
“The Tehran Times knows more about Rob Malley than the New York Times,” added Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “This is crazy.”
Malley has previously been accused by Republicans of being too cozy with certain factions in Tehran.
The Biden administration has not made any statement about the specific allegations that led to the suspension of Robert Malley’s security clearance.AP
Earlier this year, when Malley publicly confirmed the ongoing investigation into his security clearance, he insisted State Department officials had given him no further information.
“I have been informed that my security clearance is under review,” he said at the time. “I have not been given any further information, but I expect the investigation to be completed well and soon. Meanwhile, I’m on vacation.”
Earlier this month, Malley held a gig at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) as a visiting professor and lecturer.
Robert Malley was one of the architects of the Iran nuclear deal.AFP via Getty Images
Robert Malley is widely regarded as one of the leading voices on Middle East policy. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Malley helped lead US negotiations with Iran and previously served as lead negotiator of the controversial 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal.
The deal provided Tehran with sanctions relief in exchange for temporary curbs on its nuclear program. Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic
Biden has sought to revive that part of the deal while negotiating a possible prisoner exchange with Iran.
“If this memo is authentic, it is particularly concerning because this is not the first time that a spokesperson for the Iranian regime has appeared to have sensitive US government information recently while Congress was kept in the dark,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R)-Texas) told The Post in a statement.
McCaul asked the State Department to conduct a “top-to-bottom security review because I’m concerned they have leaks.”
“I have requested transparency from the State Department regarding the ongoing Robert Malley saga and will continue to demand answers,” he added. “Regarding this latest chapter, I am very concerned about how the regime obtained these potentially authentic documents and other sensitive or confidential information they may have.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
