VOA常速英语2007-Iran's Chief Nuclear Negotiator Steps Down

By Challiss McDonough
Cairo
20 October 2007

Iran says its top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, has resigned. He will be replaced by a relatively¹ unknown deputy foreign minister with close ties to the Iranian president. VOA's Challiss McDonough has more from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

Ali Larijani, attends a news conference in Tehran, in this March, 2006 file photo

An Iranian government spokesman told state-run media that Ali Larijani's resignation is effective immediately.

Spokesman Gholem Hussein Elham said Larijani will be replaced by Saeed Jalili, a young deputy foreign minister for European and American affairs. Jalili is a close ally of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The spokesman said Larijani resigned for personal reasons and that he wants to devote time to other political activities. He did not elaborate.

He said Larijani had tried to resign several times, and this time President Ahmadienejad accepted his resignation.

Larijani had been scheduled to meet with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Rome on Tuesday for a new round of talks on Iran's nuclear program. Iranian and EU officials say the talks will go ahead on schedule, with Jalili representing Iran. Local media indicated that Larijani might still attend the talks along with his successor.

Larijani has been chief nuclear negotiator and head of the Supreme² National Security Council since 2005. He is considered a hardliner, but was also known to differ with President Ahmadinejad over tactics for handling nuclear-related talks with the West. Larijani was seen as advocating a more pragmatic approach than the president.

 

Some analysts³ say his resignation and replacement⁴ by Jalili are signs that Mr. Ahmadinejad is consolidating⁵ his influence over the nuclear program and Iran's nuclear-related dealings with the West.

The Iranian government spokesman said the switch does not reflect a change in policy.

The UN Security Council has demanded that Iran stop enriching uranium and comply with an aggressive inspection⁶ program by the UN nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA. Under President Ahmadinejad, Iran has steadfastly⁷ refused to shut down its enrichment program and has said it has the right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology.

The United States and the European Union believe that Iran is secretly trying to build a nuclear bomb. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful and designed only to produce nuclear energy.

Russia has been a key mediator⁸ in the crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin has advocated more dialogue and diplomacy⁹ to resolve the standoff, while the United States has favored more sanctions. On a visit to Tehran on Tuesday, Mr. Putin said he believes Iran's nuclear ambitions are peaceful. He rejected the use of force against Iran, something the United States has refused to rule out.

1 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

5 consolidating   

v.（使）巩固， （使）加强( consolidate的现在分词 )；（使）合并

参考例句：

• These measures are meant for consolidating the system of basic medical care. 这些举措旨在夯实基层医疗体系，让老百姓看大病不必出远门。 来自互联网
• We are consolidating the Chinese and English versions of our homepage. 我们将为您提供中英文版本一起的主页。 来自互联网

6 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

7 steadfastly   

adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝

参考例句：

• So he sat, with a steadfastly vacant gaze, pausing in his work. 他就像这样坐着，停止了工作，直勾勾地瞪着眼。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• Defarge and his wife looked steadfastly at one another. 德伐日和他的妻子彼此凝视了一会儿。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

8 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

9 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。