Department of State

About 275 U.S. military personnel are being deployed to Iraq to help American personnel and protect the embassy in Baghdad, President Barack Obama said June 16 in a letter to Congressional leaders.

The force, which began deploying on June 14, has been sent "for the purpose of protecting U.S. citizens and property, if necessary, and is equipped for combat," Obama wrote.

The Islamic militants who overran cities and towns in Iraq last week posted graphic photos that appeared to show their gunmen massacring scores of captured Iraqi soldiers.

U.S. wants "direct dialogue" with Iran on Iraq situation

NEW YORK -- The U.S. is preparing to launch direct dialogue with their long-time opponent Iran, focusing on security in Iraq, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

Citing unnamed U.S. officials, the newspaper stated that it is expected that the dialogue will begin this week, Reuters said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said U.S. assistance to Iraq, which is seeking to repel a stunning militant advance, would only work if Iraqi leaders overcame deep divisions, the State Department said on June 14

Kerry spoke with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in a call on Saturday, the State Department said in a statement.

Iran and the United States go into a second day of talks June 10 on Tehran's contested nuclear programme, with Washington warning of "tough choices" ahead of a July deadline for a deal.

High-level Turkish and American diplomats will hold meetings in Washington Monday and Tuesday to exchange views about bilateral, regional and global issues, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on June 7.

“White House spokespersons,” whenever they appear before the press, fire away at our prime minister in slight or not-so-slight doses. They sometimes say that our prime minister’s words are “ridiculous.”
For our prime minister, they are saying, “We have warned him.”

For certain practices of our prime minister, they are saying they are “unacceptable.”

Russian UN draft on Ukraine criticized

NEW YORK -- A Russian draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and a humanitarian corridor met with criticism from the West, AFP reported.

The draft has also had "cool response at the Security Council on Monday," the French agency said.

A suicide bomber yesterday killed three Turkish engineers and wounded another in eastern Afghanistan in the latest attack on foreigners in the war-torn country, while Taliban denied responsibility.

The United States has condemned Russia's threat to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine.

In a statement made by the State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, "Russia's efforts to use energy as a tool of coercion" are unacceptable, the BBC reports.