Recent remarks by Iran's leaders calling in question the Holocaust and Israel's existence have increased pressure on Ban Ki-moon to isolate Iran. Last week, Mr Ban condemned the statement as offensive and inflammatory. But today in New York, his spokesperson said not attending the summit and talks with Iran's leaders would be a missed opportunity. Negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program have yet to produce an agreement. During a Security Council briefing on Wednesday, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs said it appeared Iran may be exporting arms to Syria. Mr Ban's spokesman said the trip would allow the Secretary General to make clear to the Iranian leadership what was expected from Tehran.

伊朗领导人最近发表言论，对大屠杀和以色列的存在问题进行了质疑，这促使潘基文决心孤立伊朗。上周，潘基文谴责这些言论很无礼、很煽动。但今天在纽约，他的发言人说如果不参加峰会，不与伊朗领导人会谈，便是错失机会。与伊朗就其核项目的会谈尚未达成协议。在周三安理会的简报中，政治事务副秘书长说，伊朗似乎在向叙利亚出口武器。潘基文的发言人说，秘书长将利用这次访问向伊朗领导人表明清楚他对德黑兰的期望。

An international scientific study suggests that the children of older fathers are at greater risk of suffering some form of mental disorder. The research, published in the journal Nature, says men who have children at 40 pass on twice as many genetic mutations to their offspring as fathers aged 20.