defuse

オバマ米大統領がイランのロウハニ大統領と１９７９年のイラン革命で国交を断絶して以来初めて電話による会談を行いました。

Obama Speaks to President of Iran in First Talk Since 1979

WASHINGTON — The long-fractured relationship between the United States and Iran took a significant turn on Friday when President Obama and President Hassan Rouhani became the first leaders of their countries to speak since the Tehran hostage crisis more than three decades ago.

In a hurriedly arranged telephone call, Mr. Obama reached Mr. Rouhani as the Iranian leader was headed to the airport to leave New York after a whirlwind news media and diplomatic blitz. The two agreed to accelerate talks aimed at defusing the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program and afterward expressed optimism at the prospect of a rapprochement that would transform the Middle East.

“Resolving this issue, obviously, could also serve as a major step forward in a new relationship between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, one based on mutual interests and mutual respect,” Mr. Obama, referring to Tehran’s nuclear program, told reporters at the White House after the 15-minute phone call. “It would also help facilitate a better relationship between Iran and the international community, as well as others in the region.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/world/obama-says-he-spoke-to-irans-president-by-phone.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130928

イヤな思い出があるのがdefuse。英日通訳でdiffuse（「知識などを広める」、「普及させる」）と取り違えて訳してしまったのです。単なるアホでした。

defuseの方は文字通りにはde+fuse、つまり「（爆弾から）信管を抜き取る」という意味ですが、一般には「（…の〉危険を取り除く、（…の）緊張をやわらげる」という比喩的な意味で用いられることが多いということに気がついたのは後の祭り。以下、LDOCEの定義と例文です。

"to improve a difficult or dangerous situation, for example by making people less angry or by dealing with the causes of a problem"

defuse a situation/crisis/row etc

Beth's quiet voice helped to defuse the situation.

ちなみにdefuse tension/anger etcもよく耳にするcollocationです。

The agreement was regarded as a means of defusing ethnic tensions

「広める話」とはまったく関係ない内容でしたので、すぐに訂正しましたけど、あのときには顔から火が出てしまいました。若き日の思い出です...（今はじじいですが）。（UG）