Kerry's Broken Leg Comes as Iran Talks Heat Up

The accident came as the U.S. -- led by Kerry -- five other world powers and Iran have resumed efforts to reach a nuclear accord before a June 30 deadline. It is unclear whether the accident will affect those talks. The accord would curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions.

The top U.S. diplomat met with his Iranian counterpart, Javed Zarif, for about six hours in Geneva on Saturday. The pair’s next meeting was expected to be in about two weeks, which would give Kerry some time to recovery from his injury. Technical experts will hold meetings in the meantime, starting in Vienna within a few days.

Kerry fell from his bike, apparently after hitting a curb along the roadside near the town of Scionzier, a State Department official said on condition of not being further identified. Kerry, 71, was transported about 40 kilometers (25 miles) by medical helicopter to University Hospital in Geneva, where his injury was evaluated.

“Given the injury is near the site of his prior hip surgery, he will return to Boston today to seek treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital with his doctor who did the prior surgery,” John Kirby, a State Department spokesman, said in a statement. “The secretary is stable and never lost consciousness, his injury is not life-threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery.”

Thigh Bone

Kirby confirmed that Kerry broke his “right femur.” The bone is commonly referred to as a thigh bone.

Kerry had been scheduled to fly to Madrid Sunday. He was also scheduled to meet with other members of the coalition against the Islamic State militant group on Tuesday in Paris. Kerry plans to take part in the Paris meeting “remotely,” Kirby said.

The secretary, an avid cyclist, was enjoying a free morning after his meeting with Zarif. He fell on a stretch of road that in some years makes up part of the Tour de France race course.