The Latest Breaking News from State Department

Poland opens border to Americans leaving Ukraine

The State Department said on Saturday it encourages U.S. citizens to "depart immediately."

Axios · Feb 13, 2022

Blinken says Ukraine embassy drawdown prudent given high risk of Russian invasion

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday the risk of Russian military action in Ukraine is high and imminent enough to justify the departure of much of the staff at U.S. embassy in Kyiv, which the State Department announced earlier.

Reuters · Feb 13, 2022

Russia’s ‘key’ security demands unmet during Biden-Putin call on Ukraine, Kremlin says

The ideas that US President Joe Biden shared to address Moscow’s security demands during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin Saturday did not “touch upon” the demands’ “key elements”, the Kremlin said. Countries from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia urged their nationals to leave Ukraine as tensions mounted…

France 24 · Feb 12, 2022

U.S. climate envoy Kerry to travel to Mexico City, meet Mexican president

U.S. Special Climate Envoy John Kerry will travel to Mexico City on Wednesday and meet with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and other government officials, the U.S. State Department said on Monday.

Reuters · Feb 7, 2022

Iran Calls Removal of US Sanctions Its 'Red Line' for 2015 Deal Revival

Iran said on Monday removal of US sanctions is Tehran's red line in talks with world powers in Vienna to revive a 2015 nuclear deal, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman told a news conference, adding that talks will resume on Tuesday. On Friday, the United States restored sanctions waivers allowing…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 7, 2022

US Waives Sanctions for Iran Civil Nuclear Program

The US State Department is waiving sanctions on Iran's civilian nuclear program in a technical step necessary to return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, a senior official said Friday. The resumption of the waiver, ended by the Donald Trump administration in 2020, "would be essential to ensuring Iran's swift compliance"…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 5, 2022

Biden administration restores sanctions waiver to Iran

US State Department official says waiver needed to allow for technical discussions key to talks on nuclear deal return.

Al Jazeera · Feb 4, 2022

Biden administration restores sanctions waiver to Iran as talks in final phase

The Biden administration has restored a sanctions waiver to Iran, a senior State Department official said on Friday, as indirect talks between the United States and Iran on returning to the 2015 nuclear agreement entered the final stretch.

Reuters · Feb 4, 2022

Consular services in Havana to increase in 'the not too distant future,' US diplomat says

A year after announcing a review of U.S. policy toward Cuba, a top State Department official hinted the Biden administration was readying to move to increase visa processing in Havana.

Miami Herald · Feb 4, 2022

Blinken to Visit Asia to Emphasize Commitment Despite Ukraine Crisis

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken goes to Asia next week for talks with Indo-Pacific allies, including a meeting of foreign ministers of the four-nation Quad, the State Department said on Friday. Blinken is making the trip despite the mounting crisis over Ukraine and policy analysts say the aim is…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 4, 2022