VOA标准英语2009-Ahmedinejad Uses Conciliatory Tone Over Nucl

By Edward Yeranian
Cairo
12 November 2009

 
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (file photo)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad says Iran and the West have "entered a period of cooperation" concerning its nuclear program. The Iranian president did not reply to specifics of a pending¹ nuclear deal during a televised address.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad sounded conciliatory and upbeat, but avoided specifics about Tehran's controversial nuclear program in an interview late Wednesday on state TV.

He said Iran has "now entered a stage of cooperation [with the West]," and that Tehran's main concern centers on "participation² in projects such as an international [nuclear] fuel bank, nuclear reactors³, and plant construction."

The Iranian president claimed that due to his resolve the West is no longer demanding Iran "suspend its [nuclear] program."  He often blames his predecessor⁴, Mohammed Khatami, for agreeing in 2003 to suspend work on uranium enrichment.

Mr. Ahmedinejad also appears to be distancing himself from caustic⁵ remarks made recently by parliament speaker Ali Larijani and hardline parliamment member Alaedin Borojurdi about the terms of a pending nuclear deal with the United Nations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency and the Western powers that negotiated the draft deal for Iran to send nearly 80 percent of its stockpile of low-grade uranium to France and Russia for further enrichment are awaiting Tehran's final response.

Iran analyst⁶ Mehrdad Khonsari of the London-based Center for Arab and Iranian Studies says Iran appears to be stalling for time by avoiding specifics about the deal.

"From their standpoint, President Obama, earlier this year, said that he was giving the Iranian regime up to the end of the year, so I think they are trying to keep that kind of agenda in mind and not reveal their final position until such time that they absolutely have to," he said. "So, the question is, in the next 40 days, will they come clean? My personal view is, at the end of that time, they will try to be evasive and unclear and not come clean, and try to buy more time."

Khonsari stresses he does not believe the Iranians are serious about making meaningful concessions⁷ because they believe if they continue to resist, the international demands will be diluted⁸.

The final decision on whether to accept the IAEA nuclear deal belongs to Supreme⁹ Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He recently criticized President Obama for changing the tone, but not the substance of his policies towards Iran.

Mr. Obama's recent appointment of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran John Limbert might soften¹⁰ the Ayatollah's stance. Limbert was one of 51 U.S. diplomats¹¹ taken hostage by Iran in 1979, and he met directly with the Ayatollah during his 444 day captivity¹².  

1 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

2 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

3 reactors   

起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆

参考例句：

• The TMI nuclear facility has two reactors. 三哩岛核设施有两个反应堆。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• The earliest production reactors necessarily used normal uranium as fuel. 最早为生产用的反应堆，必须使用普通铀作为燃料。

4 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

5 caustic   

adj.刻薄的，腐蚀性的

参考例句：

• He opened his mouth to make a caustic retort.他张嘴开始进行刻薄的反击。
• He enjoys making caustic remarks about other people.他喜欢挖苦别人。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

8 diluted   

无力的，冲淡的

参考例句：

• The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade. 这颜料可用水稀释以使色度淡一些。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

9 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。

10 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

11 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》

12 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。