VOA标准英语2013--Kerry Mideast Talks on Syria to Include Russian Call for Involving Iran

（单词翻译）

Kerry Mideast Talks on Syria to Include Russian Call for Involving Iran

In this fight for control of Syria, Iran is one of the biggest backers of embattled President Bashar al-Assad.  So Russia says Iran should be part of the peace process.  

"Iran has repeatedly underlined its solidarity¹ with the Syrian government. Iranian officials pay regular visits to Damascus.  No geopolitical bias² should be an obstacle to Iran taking part in this conference," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Obama administration has in the past objected to Russia's call for Iranian involvement but says no one has yet been ruled in or out of these talks.  State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki says Washington understands Moscow's position on Tehran.

"We have seen the remarks of the Russians.  Again, it’s not a surprise.  They’ve expressed that publicly in the past.  And we’ll work through the participation³ with all parties," Psaki said.

U.S. concerns about involving Iran include how that might distract from ongoing⁴ efforts to limit Tehran's nuclear program as well as its support for Lebanon's Hezbollah, which Syrian opposition⁵ fighters say is helping⁶ Assad forces near the Lebanese border.

"The U.S. perception is that Iran tends to play the role of spoiler in these kinds of settings.  And it's trying to bring around the table parties whom the United States and Russia agree have a vested interest in finding a productive way out of the nightmare that Syria is experiencing,"  said U.S. Institute of Peace analyst⁷ Steve Heydemann:

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem says Iran is helping defend his country. "This is an internal war, but it's also a regional and international war against the Syrian people.  We are ready to defend ourselves and will not be silent in the face of aggression," he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says only a political settlement can head off broader regional conflict.

"With thanks to God, the situation in Syria is going well.  Syria's courageous⁸ military has regained¹⁰ much of its territory, and Syria will fully¹¹ regain⁹ its strength in the near future," Salehi said.

Heydemann believes there is no way to end the fight without some kind of role for Iran.

"It doesn't mean that the U.S. needs to try to find ways to mollify Iran in addressing the Syria conflict.  But it does mean that we need to find some way to reassure¹² Iran that its equities¹³ will at least be acknowledged as a process of negotiation¹⁴ unfolds," Heydemann said.

Syria's main opposition group has not committed to joining peace talks, in part, because of questions about which Assad allies - like Iran - will take part.