US acts to open dialogue with Iran about Syria, Yemen crises
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.
On Friday, the Obama administration's top Iran negotiator, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, said discussing Syria with Iranian officials would "make sense" in the context of current developments.
U.S. officials say they are not certain about Russia's motives for the military buildup, but have said they would welcome a positive contribution to the fight against the Islamic State group that does not bolster Assad.
In Yemen, the fighting involves rebels, known as Houthis, and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh against the Saudi-backed and internationally recognized government forces as well as southern separatists, local militias and Sunni extremists.