Anne W. Patterson: “The United States will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.”

We don't believe it is possible to have any sort of settlement there, either a political settlement or any military defeat of ISIL, without the departure of Assad.

The solution can only come through a political transition.

Certainly not. The President and certainly the Secretary have said many times that Assad's departure is absolutely critical to any future in Syria.

There is no military solution, and the international community cannot afford a continuation of the status quo.