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A top member of the U.S. team negotiating with Iran has left the role after urging a tougher stance on nuclear talks.
A State Department official confirmed that Richard Nephew, known as the architect of sanctions on Tehran, had stepped down as U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Iran.
At the same time, the Wall Street Journal reported that two other negotiators had stepped aside because they wanted a harder negotiating position.
Their departures come at a critical time in talks that resumed two months ago.
Western diplomats say they hope for a breakthrough in the coming weeks - but critical differences remain between the two sides and Britain on Tuesday warned of a looming impasse.
A State Department official declined to comment on the specifics of internal policy discussions.
A State Department official confirmed that Richard Nephew was no longer deputy special envoy for Iran but was still working at the State Department
Nuclear talks resumed in Vienna, Austria, in November but have made little progress. Iran refuses to talk directly with American negotiators. As a result European diplomats have to carry communications between separate rooms but the effort has stalled