Iran's Zarif, US's Kerry Discuss JCPOA in Vienna

The two top diplomats used the opportunity in the Austrian capital on Thursday to talk about the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

Iran and the six powers on July 14 reached a conclusion on the 159-page nuclear agreement that would terminate all sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after coming into force.

The agreement was officially adopted on October 18, and is going to take effect within the next two months.

Zarif and Kerry, along with top diplomats from a number of world powers and regional countries, are in Vienna to attend an international meeting on Syria, trying to find ways to end a prolonged crisis in the Arab country.

Speaking at a daily press briefing in Washington on Thursday, US State Department Spokesman John Kirby asserted that the meeting between Zarif and Kerry was about the JCPOA alone.

Asked about any talk of Syria in the meeting between the two diplomats, Kirby said the gathering “was designed to talk about the JCPOA and implementation. There was no discussion about the conflict in Syria.”

“… it was made plain to me that the topic of Syria and political transition was not discussed,” in the meeting between Zarif and Kerry, the spokesperson noted.

The Iranian foreign minister announced earlier that Iran is attending the Vienna meeting to present its views and offer strategies for reaching a solution to the crisis in Syria.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including the ISIL, currently controlling parts of it.

According to the United Nations, more than 240,000 people have been killed and one million wounded during the conflict.