Washington Split by Reports Showing Iran Sympathizers Weakening American Positions on Tehran

One of those sympathizers, Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group, visited the White House at least five times in the last two years. The reports indicate he was a member of a small group cultivated by top Iranian officials.

AP/Riccardo De Luca
America's former special representative for Iran, Robert Malley, at Rome, December 3, 2022. AP/Riccardo De Luca

While it’s clear that the Islamic Republic benefits from cultivating American sympathizers, it’s less clear what America gains from admitting them into top policy-making circles. 

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