Mogherini Hopes Iran Can Play Role In Syria

Azeri Daily: The European Union’s foreign policy chief has expressed hope Iran can play a constructive role in a renewed United Nations push to restart negotiations to end Syria’s four-year civil war, RFE/RL reports.

Federica Mogherini was speaking in New York on April 28 ahead of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Mogherini said Tehran could convince Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad “to participate in a Syrian-led transition.”

Mogherini’s talks with Zarif were expected to focus on negotiations to finalize a comprehensive deal on Iran’s nuclear program.

Mogherini said she and Zarif will go through “all the parts of concern” during their discussions.

The five permanent UN Security Council members, plus Germany, have set a June 30 deadline for a deal with Iran.

Mogherini, who is the mediator, said a deal could “open the way for a different role for Iran in the region.”