Nuclear talks with Iran
Lawmakers were particularly keen to question Kerry on the state of nuclear negotiations with Iran, which continued over the weekend in Geneva.
Kerry, who flew back to Washington just last night, warned critics to withhold judgment until the negotiations have run their course.
“Anybody running around right now, jumping in to say, ‘Well, we don’t like the deal,’ or this or that, doesn’t know what the deal is,” said Kerry. “There is no deal yet.”
READ: Report says Iran to resume nuclear talks with U.S. on Friday
His testimony comes just one week before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the U.S. Congress about the dangers of loosening sanctions on Iran — a step the U.S. and its partners are considering in exchange for certain assurances from Iran that it won’t develop a nuclear weapon.
–
The department updated its guidance for Americans traveling to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Algeria – three extremist hotspots where Americans could become targets.
Perhaps more concerning still was an emergency message sent to Americans in Afghanistan, which said “militants planned to conduct multiple imminent attacks against an unspecified target or targets in Kabul City.”
The State Department would not provide additional information on that threat, but said it was unrelated to the three travel warnings that went out shortly after.
Meanwhile, back on Capitol Hill, Kerry addressed the overall state of the world.
“People need to be vigilant, but not scared,” he said. “Travel today is safer than it’s ever been.”
