The story: In a policy reversal from the Donald Trump era, the US has granted sanctions relief to enable Iran to fulfill commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal. The decision appears aimed at facilitating the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the nuclear accord is formally known, leading some in Iran to welcome the move. Yet others in Tehran demand more steps, warning that “there is no coherence” in Washington necessary for “advancement” in the ongoing negotiations to restore the nuclear deal.

The coverage: US State Department Spokesman Ned Price on Feb. 5 said Washington “did not” provide sanctions relief for Iran but instead moved to “permit our international partners to address growing nuclear non-proliferation and safety risks...