The US envoy to nuclear negotiations with Tehran, Rob Malley, congratulated Iran's national team after qualifying for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
While he was expected to talk about nuclear negotiations following a new temporary suspension announced on Friday, Mali tweeted congratulating Iran on qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
"I hope the US national team will meet you in Doha," he added, where the World Cup matches will take place from November 21 to December 18.
Congrats to #teammelli on qualifying for the #WorldCup2022.
It's good to see women were allowed to attend the match.
Hope #USMNT sees you in Doha.
— Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley (@USEnvoyIran) January 28, 2022
The US envoy also praised "allowing women to attend a match" to qualify against Iraq in the stadium, for the first time in more than two years.
Rob Malley has been negotiating since April the return of the United States to the nuclear agreement, after it withdrew from it in 2018 during the era of Donald Trump.
But the negotiations are taking place indirectly, and the Iranian negotiators have not yet met.
Iran qualified for the World Cup in Qatar after winning last Thursday at home 1-0 against Iraq, 3 rounds before the end of the Asian qualifiers.
Iran leads Group A with 19 points from 7 matches, two points ahead of second-placed South Korea.