An Iranian minister did not shake hands with Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov at the International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid, Reuters said Jan. 21, citing a report by the Iranian Students News Agency.
According to the report, the Islamic republic’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization denied that the incident had occurred, calling reports of it “baseless rumor.”
Meseznikov was in Spain on Jan. 20 to formally open the Israeli exhibit at the tourism showcase. Reports surfaced later in the day that while there, he met, talked and shook hands with his Iranian counterpart.
“As opposed to the cold reaction I received from the Syrian representatives when I approached their stall, the Iranians came out to greet me,” Meseznikov said in a phone interview from Madrid.
Meseznikov stressed that the Iranians knew that they were speaking to Israeli officials. “They didn’t hide or scurry away, they remained and talked to us pleasantly.”
Meseznikov said that he also had the chance to meet and shake hands with the Iranian tourism minister, Hamid Baghaei, when the representatives of all the participating countries took part in a formal ceremony and the two stood next to each other. — jpost.com