美国有线新闻 CNN 2015-04-04

 We just learnt that the British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond is on his way back to Switzerland and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius returning his well, possible signs that an anouncement, some sort of announcement that is nearing. Secretary Kerry himself is said to remain there, at least they say through tomorrow. So no hard deadline and to be clear, no expectation of a hard and fast agreement either. 

 

With a deal in danger of disappearing, Secretary of State John Kerry and his fellow negotiators still searching for resolution in Switzerland. But nuclear talks now stretching not only the definition of deadline but also of agreement with officials now hoping for a simple statement of goals, rather than the hard commitments they originally intended. The White House placed the blame on Iran:

 

While the talks have been productive, we have not yet received the specific tangible¹ commitments the international community seeks.

 

Iran shifted it right back to the West:

 

And I certainly hope that our colleagues will recognize the fact that this is a unique opportunity that will not be repeated and they need to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

The fact is, extension have been the name of the game of these talks since the sides reached aninterim agreement in November 2013. The talks were extended the following July, extended again that November, and then on Tuesday, and today extended yet again, albeit³ just in 24-hour increments⁴. The deadline for a final agreement is June 30th. 

 

The biggest sticking point may simply be "trust." Foreign Minister Javad Zarif leads the Iranian delegation⁵ but Supreme⁶ Leader Ali Khamenei holds the power. The same supreme leader who presides over a country the U.S. accuses of supporting terrorism, and who has helped cultivate a long, deep history of anti-Americanism at home. Like the "Death to America" chant, we witnessed our last visit to Iran. 

 

That toughness maybe reaping dividends⁷ at the negotiating table, where long time nuclear negotiator Robert Einhorn says Iran is driving the harder bargain.

 

The Iranians may have concluded that the U.S. team was under some pressure to get it--a deal that the U.S. and its partners would make all the remaining concessions⁸.

 

This interim² deadline was originally intended by the U.S. and its western partners to be an early test of whether a broader agreement is possible and whether Iran crucially is willing to makeconcession for that broader agreement. These delays could of course be last-minute posturing⁹, but at a minimum, Wolf they leave that question open. I think we need a lot of expectations management for what to expect out of an agreement if it happens, and that's if it happens.

1 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 albeit   

conj.即使；纵使；虽然

参考例句：

• Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。
• Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。

4 increments   

n.增长( increment的名词复数 )；增量；增额；定期的加薪

参考例句：

• These increments were mixed and looked into the 5.56mm catridge case. 将各种药粒进行混和，装在5．56毫米的弹壳中。 来自辞典例句
• The Rankine scale has scale increments equal to the FahrenheIt'scale. 兰氏温标的温度间距与华氏温标的相同。 来自辞典例句

5 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

6 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。

7 dividends   

红利( dividend的名词复数 )； 股息； 被除数； （足球彩票的）彩金

参考例句：

• Nothing pays richer dividends than magnanimity. 没有什么比宽宏大量更能得到厚报。
• Their decision five years ago to computerise the company is now paying dividends. 五年前他们作出的使公司电脑化的决定现在正产生出效益。

8 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。

9 posturing   

做出某种姿势( posture的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was posturing a model. 她正在摆模特儿的姿势。
• She says the President may just be posturing. 她说总统也许只是在做样子而已。