Iran’s foreign minister abruptly left a dinner with Condi Rice because he was afraid of a violinist’s cleavage.
Iran’s foreign minister walked out of a dinner of diplomats where he was seated directly across from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on the pretext that the female violinist entertaining the gathering was dressed too revealingly.
“I don’t know which woman he was afraid of, the woman in the red dress or the secretary of state,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday, regarding the actions of Iran’s Manouchehr Mottaki.
Rice herself was questioned by reporters about the lack of a direct conversation with Mottaki, even though it appeared she was “chasing” him. “Uh, well, you could ask him why he didn’t make an effort,” she replied. Then she laughed. “Look, I’m not given to chasing anyone.”
You can’t make this stuff up. (And, no, photos of the violinist are not available.)
Alas, all was not lost.
So the face to face between Rice and Mottaki never happened, reports CBS News correspondent Charlie D’Agata. Instead, U.S. and Iranian delegations met at a lower, “expert” level, which while significant, is not a first. “Our officials did, as they did in Baghdad, have an opportunity to exchange views about the substance of this meeting,” Rice said.
So much of this Iraq summit has been about the U.S. and Iran, but with good reason, reports D’Agata. America blames Iran for violence in Iraq, Iran blames America, and the Iraqis have been urging both countries to put their differences aside and put Iraq first.
I’m unconvinced negotiations with a country whose foreign minister can’t handle looking at a woman in a formal wear will bear much fruit. Still, one has to try.
UPDATE: Photos of Ukrainian violinist Larissa Abramova during her performance last night:
And here’s her revealing cleavage:
Seriously?
