Zarif Meets Kerry, Stresses No Preconditions for Participation in Syria Talks

Local Editor

Before he met his US counterpart, John Kerry, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif stressed that there were no preconditions for Tehran’s participation in Syria talks.

Upon his arrival in the Austrian capital for talks aimed at ending the deadly crises in Syria, Zarif told reporters that Iran would not have taken part in the Syria talks if there were preconditions for Tehran’s participation, Iranian media reported.

Zarif and Kerry

Zarif, who is heading high-ranking political delegation, met his US counterpart, John Kerry.

The top US diplomat left his Vienna hotel and walked 100 meters up the street to his counterpart's accommodation for a closed-door meeting, AFP news agency reported.

Zarif was also scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, according to the Russian news wire Interfax, before joining a dozen powers for the main talks on Friday.

This is the first ever participation of Iran in Syrian Peace Talks, which western countries are hosting, and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad are attending, too.

Meetings of 'Geneva 1' and ' Geneva 2' to find mechanisms and solution to settle Syrian crisis failed to yield any achievement.

A quadrilateral meeting of the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey were held in Vienna last week without Iran's presence to consider Syria crisis.

Friday's talks will be a wider gathering of regional players which will see Zarif joining representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Lebanon and the European Union.