Iran’s delegation at talks with the United States in Switzerland refused to take part in a handshake ceremony and a joint photo session with the American side, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported, citing a source close to the negotiating team, News.az reports.
According to the source, the organizers of the meeting and the US delegation had planned to open the talks with a symbolic handshake and a joint photo opportunity between Iranian and American representatives. However, the head of the Iranian delegation and other members of the team rejected the format and said they would not appear in a photo session with the US side.
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As a result, the source said, the live broadcast and photo coverage were stopped. The Iranian delegation reportedly entered the meeting venue only after journalists had left the room.
The US side, according to Tasnim, asked the Iranian delegation for five minutes to allow members of the media to leave the hall. The talks then continued without the public ceremonial part.
The incident came as Iran and the United States held talks in Switzerland with the mediation of Pakistan and Qatar. The meeting is seen as one of the key diplomatic episodes amid continuing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and regional security.
