Obama Mideast Envoy Stepping Down

WASHINGTON — Dennis B. Ross, an experienced diplomat who has been a top advisor to President Obama on Iran, the Middle East peace process and  the Arab world, is leaving the White House at the end of the year, administration officials said.

Ross, who announced his departure at a lunch with Jewish leaders, told White House officials that he promised his wife he would leave the government after two years, The New York Times reports.

He joined the administration in February 2009 as a senior adviser in the State Department before moving to the National Security Council in June of that year.