President Obama, Iran's Foreign Minister Shake Hands at UN
The gesture is a first between a U.S. president and Iran's top diplomat.
— -- President Obama and Iran's foreign minister shook hands on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Monday, White House officials confirmed today.
Obama and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, Iran's chief negotiator in the nuclear talks, shook hands at a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, according to the officials.
The exchange was first revealed by Iran's official news agency, which reported Zarif came upon Obama "accidentally" and the two shook hands, according to the Associated Press. A White House official also described the encounter as "less than 60 seconds" and noted "it was a chance encounter."
The handshake is the first between an American president and Iran's top diplomat since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
While the two counties do not have diplomatic relations, there is increased speculation that a prisoner swap may be in the works. Three U.S. citizens are imprisoned in Iran while another is missing.
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