Kerry discusses Syria, Yemen crises with Iran’s Zarif

US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the crises in Syria and Yemen with his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif on Saturday, the Wall Street Journal quoted the US State Department as saying.

Kerry’s spokesman said the two officials met for the first time since Iran signed a final nuclear agreement with the US and five other world powers in Vienna in July.

Kerry and Zarif discussed the implementation of the nuclear deal, the spokesman said.

“The Secretary also raised our concerns over the ongoing crises in Yemen and Syria,” he said. Kerry also “conveyed the urgency of seeing our detained and missing US citizens come home to be reunited with their families.”

“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,” he said.

Source: MENA