"U.S. Envoy to Iran Placed on Leave Over Security Clearance Investigation"

Robert Malley, the Biden administration's special envoy to Iran, has been placed on unpaid leave as his security clearance is under review due to an investigation into his handling of classified information. The suspension comes as the administration engages in indirect talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Malley, who played a key role in negotiating the 2015 nuclear agreement, has maintained a direct channel of communication with Iran through its ambassador to the United Nations. The investigation adds uncertainty to the ongoing discussions aimed at reviving the nuclear deal, which the U.S. withdrew from in 2018 under the Trump administration.