VOA标准英语 Tehran Ready for 'Constructive' Talks, Says Nuclear

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Said Jalili, has signaled that Tehran is "ready for constructive¹ dialogue" over its nuclear program, in an apparent response to the invitation by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana for talks with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.
　
Iranian nuclear negotiator Said Jalili

Jalili noted² that President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's promise, last week, to present a new package of proposals aimed at resolving the ongoing³ nuclear standoff was a signal of its willingness to talk.

He went on to say, however, that Iran would not halt its nuclear program, which the United States and other Western nations suspect is being used as a cover to build atomic weaponry.

Jalili reiterated⁴ complaints by Mr. Ahmedinejad that the world powers have "tried to use the language of force and threat, instead of mutual⁵ respect," going on to conclude that the technique "has been proved ineffective."
　
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei in Beijing, 20 Apr 2009

International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed al-Baradei noted, Monday, that the carrot and stick approach of the Bush Administration had not worked, adding that he was "pleased by the reversal in policy by the United States."

The group of five permanent Security Council nations, plus Germany, have recognized Iran's right to a civilian⁶ nuclear program, but say Tehran also has the "responsibility of restoring confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear activities."

Some Iran experts argue that Mr. Ahmedinejad is planning to call for a "nuclear free zone in the Middle East," as part of his package of proposals for talks with the group of five, plus one.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Muttaqi is expected in Brussels, Thursday, for an international conference on Somalia hosted by the European Union. It is not clear if Iran's nuclear program will be discussed, alongside the conference, but EU sources have not ruled it out.

Amr Hamzawi, Beirut-based Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says that everything indicates that both Iran and the United States have "abandoned their old positions" and are getting ready for constructive talks:

"The two parties are ready for constructive negotiations⁷ and the Iranians have indicated in many different ways, and in a very significant way, in fact, by Ahmedinejad himself in recent days. The Iranians have a substantial interest in pushing forward the negotiations with the five members, plus one," he said. " The Iranians are not facing an easy situation in the region. There are great regional fears and doubts among the Arabs as far as the Iranian program is concerned and I guess they are trying to break the current cycle of escalation⁸ against them and boycott⁹ measures by different Arab as well as western countrie," Hamzawi added.

President Ahmedinejad welcomed President Barack Obama's pledge to open a dialogue with Tehran, during a speech Wednesday in the town of Varamin, but criticized him for not taking "practical steps…such as going to the U.N. conference on racism¹⁰ in Geneva."

President Obama indicated, Tuesday, that he would not be deterred¹¹ from conducting what he called "tough" direct diplomacy¹² with Iran, despite Mr. Ahmedinejad's controversial rhetoric¹³ against Israel at the Geneva conference.

1 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

5 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。

6 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

7 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。

8 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

9 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

10 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

11 deterred   

v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I told him I wasn't interested, but he wasn't deterred. 我已告诉他我不感兴趣，可他却不罢休。
• Jeremy was not deterred by this criticism. 杰里米没有因这一批评而却步。 来自辞典例句

12 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。

13 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。