SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, 5 May 2007 — Iran’s foreign minister walked out of dinner attended by Condoleezza Rice claiming the dress of a Russian violinist who was also present was inappropriate, US officials said yesterday.
But the officials argued the incident which took place Thursday night may have had more to do with Manouchehr Mottaki discovering “with consternation” that he had been seated right opposite the US secretary of state. “I am not sure which woman he was afraid of: the woman in the red dress or the secretary of state,” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
Iranian officials did not immediately comment on the incident. The dinner was organized by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on the sidelines of an international conference in Sharm El-Sheikh aimed at stabilizing Iraq.
