Iran president confirmed but sealed without a kiss

Iran’s supreme leader bestowed his formal endorsement on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s second term as president on Monday but withheld a powerful symbolic gesture — the kisses and close embrace that portrayed their bond four years ago.

The awkward and halting moment came when Ahmadinejad leaned forward to kiss Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But the supreme leader raised his left hand and momentarily stopped Ahmadinejad, who spoke a few words and then kissed Khamenei’s robe.