(VOVworld) - Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Monday that seeking a resolution to the Syrian conflict has entered a new chapter thanks to the thawing of relations between the West and Iran paving the way for possible talks.

Discussions on Syria have taken place without Iran and Russia, the two most important and influential players in Syria. (Photo: iranreview.org)

Following a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Hammond said both Iran and Britain are keen to use the July agreement on Iran’s nuclear program to spur discussions on the Syrian crisis and other regional issues.

He admitted that discussions on Syria have taken place without Iran and Russia, the two most important and influential players in Syria. Hammond said Russia has recently gotten involved in talks on the Syrian crisis and it’s time now for Iran to do the same.

It was Hammond’s first visit to Iran and the first by a British Foreign Secretary in 12 years. He held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Alo Shamkani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.