The BlogKerry Shakes Hands With Iranian Foreign Minister ZarifFemale State Dept. employee passes 'to be respectful of the tradition that they would not shake hands with a woman.'11:08 AM, Sep 27, 2013
• By JERYL BIER
Speculation ran high at the United Nations this week about whether or not President Obama and Iranian president Rouhani would shake hands. Ultimately, the two leaders did not as the gesture was deemed “too complicated” for Iran at this time, “given their own dynamic back home.” However, those complications did not prevent a handshake between Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian foreign minister Zarif at a ministerial meeting on Thursday. The following exchange took place at a press briefing between a reporter and an unnamed senior State Department official:
The Senior State Department official, though unnamed, went on to identify herself as a woman with the following comment on diplomatic protocol with the Iranians:
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