六国推动伊朗开展核对话

[The] United States and five other world powers are calling on Iran to accept face-to-face nuclear talks, ahead of a key meeting of the UN General Assembly（大会） later this month. Several countries have made it clear that they'll be pushing for tougher sanctions unless Iran comes up with clear evidence that it's stepped away from a nuclear weapons program.

Senior diplomats¹ from the five permanent（永久）members of the UN Security Council and host Germany have been meeting at Koenigstein, outside Frankfurt. Their closed-door discussion's centering on Iran's nuclear program. Known as the P-5+1, they came to progress talks with Iran before its nuclear activities again come up for consideration at United Nations.

"Of course, Iran has every right for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but as the United Nations Security Council has said many times that Iran is obliged to reply to all the open questions and doubts about its program."

They did not say if more sanctions were being considered against Iran. Russia and China are opposed, but Britain, France and Germany have been upping the ante, making it clear they want harsher sanctions if Tehran does not engage. The hard line comes despite a report by the UN atomic energy agency last week, saying that Iran had slowed its production of enriched uranium and had agreed to tighten² monitoring of its enrichment plant. Washington, too, is skeptical³. It's downplayed the IAEA report, saying Iran was not cooperating fully⁴ with the UN inspectors⁵.

"Iran's strategy has been and continues to be to run out the clock."

On becoming US president, Barack Obama extended a hand to Iran if its leaders unclenched their fist. Earlier in the week, the French president made the point that the hand could not be outstretched endlessly to leaders, he said, who did not answer. Iran continues to insist its nuclear program is peaceful and says it has updated a set of proposals to put and it's ready for fresh talks.

Jane Braslin, World News Australia.

Glossary⁷ [only for reference]

 face-to-face: directly, meeting someone in the same place

United Nations General Assembly: one of the five principal（主要的） organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation. Its powers are to oversee⁸ the budget of the United Nations, appoint the non-permanent members to the Security Council, receive reports from other parts of the United Nations and make recommendations in the form of General Assembly Resolutions.

push for sth [phrasal verb]: to demand something repeatedly, or to take strong action to try to make it happen

come up with sth [phrasal verb]: to suggest or think of an idea or plan

permanent members: the Security Council's five permanent members have the power to veto any substantive⁹ resolution, including China, France, Russian Federation¹⁰, United Kingdom and United States.

United Nations Security Council: one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization¹¹ of military action.

closed-door [only before noun]: closed-door meetings or talks take place secretly

center on something [phrasal verb]: if your attention centers on something or someone, or is centerd on them, you pay more attention to them than anything else

be obliged to do something: if you are obliged to do something, you have to do it because the situation, the law, a duty etc makes it necessary

up the ante: to increase your demands or try to get more things from a situation, even though this involves more risks

hard line: a strict way of dealing¹² with someone or something

downplay [transitive]: to make something seem less important than it really is

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit¹³ its use for military purposes. The IAEA reports to both the General Assembly and the Security Council.

run out the clock: if a team runs out the clock at the end of a game, it tries to keep the ball for the rest of the game so that its opponents cannot get any points

extend [transitive]: to stretch out a hand or leg

unclench: release a clenched⁶ part of the body

outstretch: extend or stretch out something, especially a hand or arm

update [transitive]: to add the most recent information to something.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 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》

2 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

3 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 clenched   

v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
• She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上，以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。

8 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

9 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

10 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

11 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

12 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

13 inhibit   

vt.阻止，妨碍，抑制

参考例句：

• Don't let ego and greed inhibit clear thinking and hard work.不要让自我和贪婪妨碍清晰的思维和刻苦的工作。
• They passed a law to inhibit people from parking in the street.他们通过一项法令以阻止人们在街上停车。