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That Ernest Moniz-John Kerry High Five Was 'Just About Crepes'

John Kerry double high-fives Ernest Moniz / AP
December 11, 2015

A picture of John Kerry and Ernest Moniz high-fiving in Lausanne, Switzerland, was used all over the place and taken by many as a sign that negotiations were going well but really it was "just about the crepes," according to Moniz, who was asked about the March picture during an Esquire interview.

"John was coming out of a crepe restaurant that I had introduced him to some days earlier as I was heading there for lunch," explains Moniz. "And he came out, a big, beaming smile on his face, and we did a double high-five."

"Pictures all over the place. 'They must have a deal.' It was just about the crepes."

Moniz told Esquire that he and Kerry were "really feeding off each other in many ways" and that he "got to know him a lot better" during the Iran talks.

"We were really feeding off each other in many ways. I mean, I knew John before, but I got to know him a lot better. The closer you get and the more personal with him, the more you like what you see. He's got a great sense of humor."

Moniz also praised Kerry for his "courage under fire with the broken leg."

"The last negotiation, which went 19 straight days, John was in clear discomfort with his leg, but man, he just was tough," said Moniz. "He never broke the negotiation to say, 'Look, I've gotta go lie down' or anything like that. He's a tough guy. And he really just gritted through it."

Kerry broke his leg while cycling in France.