VOA标准英语 US to Join Big-Power Nuclear Talks With Iran

The United States, in a policy shift, says it will play a full role in future big-power talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Diplomats² of the five permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany, the so-called P5+1, meeting in London Wednesday, invited Iran to join them in an upcoming discussion.

The Bush administration had generally refused to take part in meetings involving Iran on the nuclear issue, saying that Tehran had to first agree to end a uranium enrichment program U.S. officials believe is weapons-related.

But in a departure from that policy, the Obama administration says it will join in future big-power discussions with Tehran, hoping it will prompt the Iranians to be more forthcoming.
　
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana (file)

Senior diplomats of the five permanent Security Council member states and Germany, who met in London Wednesday, said they would ask European Union chief diplomat¹ Javier Solana to invite Iran to a meeting soon to seek a diplomatic solution to the "critical" nuclear issue.

At a news briefing, State Department Acting³ Spokesman Robert Wood confirmed the United States will take part in that meeting, in keeping he said with the Obama administration's willingness to engage directly with Iran on the basis of mutual⁴ respect and mutual interests.

"What is different is that the U.S. will join P5+1 discussions with Iran from now on. The P5+1 has asked Dr. Javier Solana to extend an invitation to the Islamic Republic of Iran, to meet with representatives of the P5+1. If Iran accepts, we hope this will be the occasion to seriously engage Iran on how to break the logjam of recent years and work in a cooperative manner to resolve the outstanding international concerns about it nuclear program," he said.

The major powers presented Iran last July in Geneva with an updated offer of incentives⁵ for it to suspend its enrichment drive and return to negotiations⁶ over its nuclear program.

Senior U.S. diplomat William Burns, who was the U.S. delegate at Wednesday's London meeting, also took part in the Geneva session - though the Bush administration had framed his attendance as a one-time affair.

Iran, which maintains its nuclear program is entirely⁷ peaceful, has spurned⁸ the incentives and says it has a right to pursue an enrichment capability⁹.

The development in the nuclear talks was somewhat overshadowed by word from Tehran that detained American journalist Roxana Sebari was being charged by Iranian authorities with espionage¹⁰. The United States has been pressing, through Swiss interlocutors, for the release of Saberi, who has been detained in Iran since January.
　
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (file photo)

At a photo session with Bulgaria's foreign minister Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed concern about the case.

"We are deeply concerned by the news we are hearing. We have asked the Swiss, who as you know are our protectorate in Iran, to obtain the most accurate, up to date information. I will, as will the rest of the [State] Department, continue to follow this very closely. And, we wish for her speedy release and return to her family," she said.

Clinton had asked for Saberi's early release in a diplomatic note passed to Iranian officials at a conference on Afghanistan late last month at the Hague.

Spokesman Wood, under questioning, said the action against Saberi was not the response the administration has hoped for in its outreach to Iran. For direct diplomacy¹¹ with Iran, he said, "we need a partner with an outstretched hand, as well."

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

4 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

5 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 spurned   

v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Eve spurned Mark's invitation. 伊夫一口回绝了马克的邀请。
• With Mrs. Reed, I remember my best was always spurned with scorn. 对里德太太呢，我记得我的最大努力总是遭到唾弃。 来自辞典例句

9 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

10 espionage   

n.间谍行为，谍报活动

参考例句：

• The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.官方已经逮捕了几个涉嫌从事间谍活动的人。
• Neither was there any hint of espionage in Hanley's early life.汉利的早期生活也毫无进行间谍活动的迹象。

11 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。