December 20, 2015 Iran to soon have access to billions in frozen funds as sanctions eased Iran will soon have access to billions of dollars in previously frozen funds -- and have an easier time trading in crude oil, gold and other high-value materials -- after the U.S. and its partners began easing economic sanctions, in response to the regime scaling back its nuclear work.
December 20, 2015 Kerry says US will not be pressured into decision on long-delayed Keystone pipeline Kerry, who has rarely spoken about the pipeline since taking office a year ago, said "a lot of questions" were raised about the project in a lengthy public comment period the State Department conducted.
December 20, 2015 Kerry urges Syrian opposition groups to attend peace conference The opposition groups, which will vote Friday whether to attend the peace conference, say it should lead to a transitional government that would see Syrian President Bashar Assad step down and end four decades of his family's rule in Syria.
December 20, 2015 US pledges $380M in additional humanitarian aid for Syria war victims The United States will send $380 million in additional aid to victims of Syria's bloody civil war, much of it designated for children in need of health care, education and emotional counseling.
December 20, 2015 Russia again blocks anti-Assad resolution at UN, as Kerry heads for Syria summit Russia has once again blocked an anti-Assad resolution before the U.N. Security Council, ӣƵ has learned, in the latest setback ahead of Secretary of State John Kerry's mission abroad to pursue a Syria peace plan.
December 20, 2015 Kerry faces pushback after floating role for terror sponsor Iran in Syria talks At the same time Secretary of State John Kerry is warning that terrorists are fueling unrest across Iraq and Syria, he is now reaching out to a country his own department for decades has singled out as one of the prime sponsors of terrorism.
December 20, 2015 Kerry vows support for Iraq government in Fallujah, but won't send US troops In his first remarks since Islamic militants with Al Qaeda ties overran the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, U.S. Secretary of State promised support for Iraq's government, but emphatically rejected any possibility that the U.S. would send troops back into the country, saying of the Baghdad government "this is their fight."
December 20, 2015 Kerry in Middle East says Israelis, Palestinians work with 'great intensity' toward peace Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday that Israeli and Palestinian leaders are working with "great intensity” toward resolving their differences and reaching a peace agreement, though no deadline appears imminent in the decades-long effort.
December 20, 2015 Kerry prepares for new Middle East peace push at end of tumultuous year Secretary of State John Kerry is ending 2014 much in the same way he started it, frustrated in efforts to push Israel and Palestinians toward peace.
December 20, 2015 Obama administration tries to play ref as showdown brews at UN over Israel A showdown is brewing at the United Nations over a push by Palestinian officials and their allies to formally demand Israel withdraw from the West Bank and East Jerusalem within two years, leaving the Obama administration scrambling to stake out its position and ease tensions.