Do you fist-pump or signal “touchdown” when you sign a deal with the Iranians? The White House Flickr feed just released this photo, taken back on November 23:
“Ben Rhodes and Tony Blinken both give thumbs up as the President talks on the phone with Secretary of State John Kerry in Geneva to discuss ongoing negotiations with Iran. The call was on a Saturday which accounts for the casual attire.” (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Ben Rhodes and Tony Blinken are really pumped. Or maybe they’re really cheering about the secret side deal with Iran:
Key elements of a new nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers are contained in an informal, 30-page text not yet publicly acknowledged by Western officials, Iran’s chief negotiator said Monday.
The U.S. State Department denies the existence of any secret side agreement. Of course, this isn’t the first time the Iranian and U.S. statements about the deal have flatly contradicted each other.