Tehran: 'We Are Closer Than Ever To Nuclear Deal'-BBG

Bloomberg reporting comments from the Iranian gov't claiming that the prospect of a deal being reached on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA, the Iran nuclear deal) is 'closer than ever'.

• Difficult to see how this is the case, with Tehran earlier this morning explicitly rejecting US preconditions to reviving the 2015 deal such as the release of prisoners.
• Patrick Wintour at The Guardian tweeted earlier: "Rob Malley US envoy on Iran "It is very hard for us to imagine getting back into the nuclear deal while four innocent Americans are being held hostage by Iran." Says issues of nuclear deal & hostages are separate, but both being pursued."
• Nevertheless, on Friday 21 Jan Reuters published a story claiming positive momentum from the EU with regards to a deal, with their source stating that "My assessment is that we are on the right track for a final agreement...and I think that it will be rather sooner than later."