At a meeting held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, Iran refused to participate in a handshake and joint photo session with the United States delegation, creating a diplomatic embarrassment for Washington. According to reports from Al Jazeera and Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the organizers had arranged a courtesy meeting and photo opportunity between the two delegations, but the Iranian side declined from the outset. As a result, the planned photo session and live broadcast were canceled.
Sources linked to the meeting said the Iranian representatives avoided the media, entering the conference room only after journalists had left. The US delegation reportedly requested an additional five minutes to allow the media to exit before the Iranians arrived. Iran’s delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accompanied by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and other senior officials.
Analysts cited in the reports suggested that Tehran’s refusal to engage in customary diplomatic gestures was a deliberate signal of its firm political stance toward Washington, reflecting the long-standing tension between the two nations.