Global terror attacks increased in 2014, State Department says

Terrorist attacks increased by 35 percent globally in 2014, according to a State Department report released Friday. As a result, deaths in those situations rose more than 80 percent. In all, nearly 33,000 people were killed in almost 13,500 attacks last year. There were 20 attacks the U.S. called "exceptionally lethal," killing more than 100 people each.

The report highlighted Iran's "undiminished" support for terrorism, including the nation's assistance to the Hezbollah militia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. and other world powers plan to finalize a nuclear deal with Iran by June 30.

"We think it’s essential that we pursue those negotiations," State Department counterterrorism coordinator Tina Kaidanow said in a news briefing. "None of that implies that we would be, again, in any way taking our eye off the ball with respect to what Iran is doing as a supporter of terrorism."

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