After a hiatus from Twitter, Secretary of State John Kerry is back, using a personal account to share images and bits of conversation from what would otherwise be secret meetings with world leaders.

"It only took a year but @StateDept finally let me have my own @Twitter account. #JKTweetsAgain," Kerry posted on Tuesday.

It only took a year but @StateDept finally let me have my own @Twitter account. #JKTweetsAgain

- John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 4, 2014

According to a State Department officially that first tweet was intended to be "tongue in cheek." Kerry has previously tweeted from the department's official @state account, initialing posts he has personally written.

Kerry, the official said, would be held to the same standards all public officials are when using social media, but his comments would not be vetted before publishing.

In one of his first tweets, Kerry called the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "barbaric" and linked to a statement on the use of barrel bombs.

Just put out statement on barrel bombs. No people should have to suffer barbaric acts of the Asad regime. #Syria http://t.co/9axREwC8wx

- John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 4, 2014

This morning, Kerry posted a photo from a breakfast with former British PM Tony Blair, who is working as a U.N. envoy to the Middle East.

Early start - 730am breakfast with old friend Tony Blair to discuss #PeaceProcess. #SlowAndSteady @TonyBlairOffice pic.twitter.com/X0Zrpr6iYu

- John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 5, 2014