Kerry talks Syria, Yemen with Iran's Zarif

Kerry and the Iranian foreign minister also discussed the Iran nuclear deal during Saturday talks, the first face-to-face meeting between the two diplomats since the deal was finalized in July.

"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 told reporters as he joined a press call with Zarif.

"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 added.

Other western officials, including EU top diplomat Federica Mogherini, also met with Zarif for separate talks on Saturday.

Softer on Assad

The diplomatic contact came as the West was trying to form a new approach to the war in Syria, spurned by the Russian military build up on the ground and the refugee crisis in Europe.

According to diplomatic sources, the new US strategy might see allies of the Syrian regime, such as Moscow, work together with those countries supporting the rebels. This would include Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, which are opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

There is also speculation over the possible involvement of Tehran, Assad's staunchest regional ally.

The US has long clashed with Iran over Assad, with the Obama administration insisting that the Syrian strongman must leave power. However, during recent weeks, Washington hinted at the possibility of Assad playing a role in a political transition which would lead to a new government.

While Iran reportedly signaled that it might consider Assad's departure, diplomatic sources say that Tehran wants the new government of Sunni-majority Syria to also be dominated by Alawite Muslims.

Talking with Kremlin

Iran is directly involved in the conflict, training and dispatching of militia fighters to strengthen regime defenses. Russia, another ally of Assad, had been boosting its military presence in Syria, supporting the government with fighter jets and other military hardware.

On the other hand, the US had been supporting moderate rebel groups fighting both the regime and Islamic extremists. This week, that policy suffered a humiliating blow after the news that US-trained rebels gave a quarter of their military gear to al Qaeda's local branch, the Nusra Front.

Kerry is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday, a day before US President Barack Obama is scheduled to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

dj/lw (AP, AFP, Reuters)