The U.S. Appoints Coordinator for Monitoring Iran's Nuclear Agreement

The Obama administration is looking to appoint Stephen Mull, the U.S. ambassador to Poland, as the primary coordinator for the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers. Politico reported, citing Mull's diplomatic background that began in 1982, that the U.S. State Department is considering him for this position, although his selection is not yet confirmed. This announcement comes as the U.S. Congress is reviewing the nuclear agreement with Iran and has until September 17 to vote either in favor or against it, although many media outlets have indicated that the vote will likely be negative. Republicans, who hold the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, accuse the Obama administration of reaching a weak agreement with Tehran that paves the way for its long-term acquisition of nuclear weapons while also providing billions of dollars in frozen funds that could strengthen terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas and Shiite militias in Iraq and Yemen. However, the Obama administration is confident that Congress does not have enough votes to overcome a potential presidential veto, thus the State Department is seeking long-term planning for the implementation of the agreement with Iran. According to the Vienna agreement reached on July 14 of this year, Iran must suspend many of its nuclear activities in exchange for the reduction and lifting of international sanctions. Politico writes that Mull's selection could satisfy and dissatisfy observers closely following the implementation of the Iran agreement: 'The reality is that having a primary coordinator is something that many supporters of the agreement advocate, but Mull is not as well-known as many had hoped.' Mull, according to a record published by the U.S. State Department, has held various missions over the years; he became the U.S. ambassador to Poland in October 2012 and is now in the final days of his mission in Warsaw, having served as an executive assistant at the State Department from June 2010 to October 2012, and as an advisor to William Burns, the then-Deputy Secretary of State, coordinating the department's diplomatic activities related to Iran since June 2008. He managed the State Department's response to the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008 and negotiations on various U.S. national security issues, including obtaining permission for U.S. military aircraft to fly through Russian airspace to deliver military supplies to Afghanistan. He also served as the U.S. ambassador to Lithuania from 2003 to 2008 and as the deputy ambassador to Indonesia from 2000 to 2003. Richard Nephew, a former U.S. State Department official who worked with Mull on sanctions, told Politico about his background: 'Mull has a long record in the State Department on everything from sensitive political missions to organizational matters, but he also has good knowledge of Iranian issues.' The site adds that it is still unclear whether the appointment of a coordinator requires approval from the U.S. Congress, although such a requirement is unlikely. This position is within the State Department, but Mull is expected to be in contact with representatives from other departments to implement the agreement with Iran, including officials from the U.S. Treasury and Energy Departments.