For diplomats from countries without diplomatic relations, Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javid Zarif sure are doing a lot of diplomacy.
As Iran races to satisfy the terms of last summer’s nuclear deal and the US prepares to suspend sanctions, Kerry is talking to Zarif more than any other foreign leader. Those talks included several emergency calls Tuesday to secure the release of 10 US sailors Iran detained in the Persian Gulf.
Since January 1, Kerry and Zarif have spoken by phone at least 11 times.
By contrast, America’s top diplomat has talked to Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister twice. He has consulted once each with the Saudi deputy crown prince, Jordan’s king and the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the EU.
— AP
US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2015. (AFP/Susan Walsh, Pool)
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
