As the Syria conflict marks its fourth anniversary, the Obama administration has publicly backed talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Obama administration has quietly stopped calling for Assad’s ouster with the rise of the self-proclaimed Islamic State across large parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq. Speaking to CBS News, Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States and allies are mulling options to bring Assad back to the table.

Secretary of State John Kerry: “We are working very hard with other interested parties to see if we could reignite a diplomatic outcome. Why? Because everybody agrees there is no military solution. There is only a political solution. But to get the Assad regime to negotiate, we’re going to have to make it clear to him that there is a determination by everybody to seek that political outcome and change his calculation about negotiating. That’s underway right now. And I am convinced that, with the efforts of our allies and others, there will be increased pressure on Assad.”

Margaret Brennan: “And you’d be willing to negotiate with him?”

Secretary of State John Kerry: “Well, we have to negotiate in the end.”

Despite Kerry’s comments, the State Department says the United States still refuses to negotiate with Assad directly.