U.S. Special Representative for Iran Robert Malley remarked that “it is very hard for us to imagine getting back into the nuclear deal while four innocent Americans are being held hostage by Iran… even as we’re conducting talks with Iran indirectly on the nuclear file we are conducting, again indirectly, discussions with them to ensure the release of our hostages”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson the following day asserted that “Iran has not accepted any preconditions from the onset of [Vienna] talks”, adding: “The case with Iranian and U.S. citizens… is of different nature. This humanitarian issue can be resolved in the shortest possible time if the U.S. adheres to the agreements it has already made”.