Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman said on Friday in Washington that Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to meet on Saturday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the United Nations and discuss the topic, AP reported.
Sherman said such a discussion would "make sense" in the context of current developments in the Syrian conflict.
"We have always been open to having discussions on the margins as appropriate," she said. "Not because we coordinate but we certainly know that there are parallel interests."
Sherman, who is stepping down from her post next month, echoed that, saying it may be possible for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to have a role in a transition.
Kerry and Zarif are also expected to discuss the implementation of the July 14 nuclear agreement.
Earlier, John Kerry said he is set to meet his Iranian counterpart in New York on the sidelines of the UN session.
“I will also be meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov in New York, a meeting with Foreign Minister Zarif regarding Iran and other things,” Kerry said.
Kerry added that a host of issues, including the implementation process of the July 14 nuclear agreement and the Syrian crisis will be discussed during his meeting with the Iranian foreign minister.
The 70th session of the UN General Assembly is underway at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Diplomats attending the session discuss a broad range of crucial issues, including human rights, disarmament, nuclear safety and global terrorism.