WASHINGTON: A top national security aide to former President Barack Obama is expected to be tapped as U.S. envoy for Iran this week, several people familiar with the matter said Thursday. The appointment of the aide, Rob Malley, would exacerbate an already bitter partisan divide over Iran and Israel policy.
Three people, including two congressional aides, said new Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to name Malley as the Biden administrations point person on Iran. According to these people, Malleys current employer, the International Crisis Group, has told staffers it expects the appointment to be announced Friday.
The State Department declined to comment and the White House did not immediately respond to a query. The three people familiar with the matter were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Rumors of Malleys potential new post have roiled the insular but highly polarized community of Iran experts in recent days.
Iran hawks are…