A senior U.S. official said there is no progress in negotiations for the release of Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped in Iraq, contrary to reports. He added that the U.S. rejected previously reported deal terms that would have involved releasing an Iranian citizen who murdered an American in Iraq. The official said that although Tsurkov is not an American citizen but rather a student who studied in the country, the U.S. is the only one handling the matter, as it "understands that Israel won't help her."