UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The U.S. took steps Saturday to open a dialogue with Iran and others about the crises in Syria and Yemen.
Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, and told reporters there would be discussions in the week ahead that could prove critical to resolving the conflicts.
“I view this week as a major opportunity for any number of countries to play an important role in trying to resolve some of the very difficult issues (of) the Middle East,” Kerry said. “We need to achieve peace and a way forward in Syria, in Yemen … in the region itself (and) I think there are opportunities this week, through these discussions, to make some progress.”
Kerry and Zarif were holding their first face-to-face meeting since they sealed a landmark nuclear agreement in Vienna in July.
Zarif said his primary focus in the talks with Kerry would be implementation of a deal that curbs Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. He also said Iran was willing to discuss regional issues, including the deadly stampede at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, in the appropriate forum.