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Veteran US diplomat: After Iran deal, focus on Syria

US diplomat James Dobbins shared his thoughts on what is next for the US and Iran, and what the recent agreement means for further collaboration in the region.
U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins speaks during a news conference in New Delhi June 27, 2013. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX112Q6

ISTANBUL — In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor on the afternoon of July 21, veteran US diplomat James Dobbins spoke about whether — and where — Iran and the United States can work together on regional issues. Ambassador Dobbins was the US point man in one of the most successful instances of Iranian-American cooperation in the 21st century. At the 2001 Bonn Conference, he worked closely with current Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and other major players to lay the foundations of a new Afghan government after the overthrow of the Taliban.

An edited transcript follows below:

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