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Time running out for serious nuclear diplomacy with Iran, former U.S. energy secretary says

  • Talks between the United States and Iran are heading for "hiatus" with the Islamic Republic planning to replace President Hassan Rouhani in June.
  • "There's probably just about 10 weeks left for some serious diplomacy," Former U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz told CNBC.
  • Analysts say hardline candidates will have the upper hand, given Rouhani's poor popularity and the dire state of Iran's sanction laden economy, potentially complicating already frayed nuclear talks.

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani makes a statement about the UAE-Israel deal after the National Combat Board Meeting with Coronavirus in Tehran, Iran on August 15, 2020.Iranian Presidency Handout | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Time is running out for the United States to engage in meaningful diplomacy with Iran and elections set for June could put nuclear talks on "hiatus," according to former U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

"There's probably just about 10 weeks left for some serious diplomacy," Moniz told CNBC in an exclusive interview on Thursday. Moniz served as energy secretary during President Obama's second term and played a key role in negotiating the 2015 nuclear deal.

"There's a pretty short fuse here to get something done before the Iranian elections will naturally call for a bit of a reset," said Moniz, who now serves as co-chair and CEO of the nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative.

The Islamic Republic is scheduled to hold a presidential election to determine the successor to Hassan Rouhani in June. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, another key architect in the 2015 nuclear deal, will also finish his term. Analysts say hardliners, or principlists, are most likely to take over, likely complicating already frayed nuclear talks with the United States.

"I would expect a hiatus while the new Iranian administration gets organized," Moniz added.

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