Syrian peace talks are expected to resume next week, US Secretary of State John Kerry said while visiting Saudi Arabia Saturday.
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Last year, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad blamed European countries for the crisis of the Syrian refugees.
He then met with Saudi King Salman and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Led by Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., the senators also said they plan to introduce legislation to impose tougher sanctions against Iran for conducting ballistic missile tests in violation of a United Nations resolution.
“Israel was facing a country that is in position to Israel and Israel’s existence that was moving towards a nuclear weapon and moving at a rate that was disturbing”, Kerry said.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a crisis point following Riyadh’s declaration on January 3 that it had cut ties with Tehran after its diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked by Iranian protesters.
Those feelings crystallised with the historic worldwide deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities.
“None of us are under any illusions that obstacles don’t still exist to trying to seek a political settlement in Syria”, Kerry said.
“If we catch them funding terrorism, they’re going to have a problem in the U.S. Congress and other people, obviously”, he said.
Kerry said IRGC and other terrorist groups would still be subject to separate sanctions should the new money be used toward attacks.
Speaking of the agreement previous year between Iran and six world powers to limit the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program in return for easing economic sanctions, Kerry said: “Iran was on a collision course with the global community that in all likelihood would have ended in war”.
Uncertainty has surrounded the talks, in part because of disagreements over which Syrian groups are considered legitimate opposition and which should be designated terrorist entities, meaning they will not be allowed to participate and will not be protected under a cease-fire.
About the conflict in Syria, Kerry said key steps have been taken to resolve it and all the countries involved have agreed on a list of principles for a post-war Syria.
“We are not living a new normal and we don’t have to”, he said.
“We are quite confident that there is a way to invite the various interested stakeholders that provides for cohesion and the ability to make the process move forward”, he said.
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Saudi Arabia and Iran each accuse the other of fomenting instability across the Middle East, and Riyadh regards Iran’s backing for Shi’ite militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as a threat to its own security.
