VOA慢速英语2019 报道称伊朗提高低浓缩铀产量（在线收听）

Reports: Iran Increases Production of Enriched Uranium

Iran has increased production of low-enriched uranium at a time of tensions with the United States over Iran’s nuclear deal with western powers.

在伊朗同西方大国达成的核协议问题上，伊朗和美国关系紧张。值此之际，伊朗增加了低浓缩铀的产量。

Two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported Monday that Iran now produces four times as much low-enriched uranium as before. Enriched uranium can be used to produce nuclear power. It also can be used to make nuclear weapons.

伊朗两家半官方的通讯社周一报道称，伊朗现在的低浓缩铀产量是以前的四倍。低浓缩铀可用于生产核电，还能用于制造核武器。

The news agency reports appeared just after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran it would face its “official end” if it ever threatened America again.

这些新闻机构的报道出现之前，美国总统川普警告了伊朗，如果再次威胁美国，该国就会面临“正式终结。”

His warning comes after days of increased tensions between the two sides. The tensions were fueled by the Trump administration’s deployment of bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf. U.S. officials have defended the move, saying it was to answer threats from Iran.

川普在两国紧张关系加剧数天之后发出了这一警告。川普政府向波斯湾部署了轰炸机和一艘航母，进一步加剧了紧张局势。美国官员为此举辩护，称这是为了回应伊朗的威胁。

Administration officials plan to inform U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday about the threat they say that Iran poses to the country and U.S. interests.

美国政府官员计划周二把伊朗对美国国家以及美国利益构成的威胁告知美国议员。

Earlier this month, officials of the United Arab Emirates claimed that four oil transport ships were sabotaged. Yemeni rebels allied with Iran used drone aircraft to launch an attack on an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. And U.S. diplomats said airline companies could be mistakenly attacked by Iran, an idea Iran has dismissed.

本月早些时候，阿联酋官员声称有四艘石油运输船遭到破坏。与伊朗结盟的也门叛乱分子使用无人机对沙特的一条输油管道进行了袭击。而美国官员表示，航空公司可能会受到伊朗的错误攻击，伊朗驳斥了这一说法。

Timeline of Iran’s nuclear program

伊朗核计划时间表

The tensions between Iran and the United States come one year after Trump decided the U.S. would withdraw from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

在川普决定美国退出伊朗同世界大国之间核协议的一年之后，伊朗同美国之间的关系开始紧张。

Both the United States and Iran say they do not want war. Yet many observers worry any mistake by either side could lead to events out of their control.

美国和伊朗双方都称不想要战争。然而，很多观察家担心，任一方的任何失误都可能会导致事态无法控制。

Both the semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported on the increased production of enriched uranium. They said the information came from a spokesman for Iran’s nuclear agency. The official said Iran “in weeks” would reach the 300-kilogram limit set by the nuclear deal. He added that the government had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency about its move.

半官方的法尔斯通讯社以及塔斯尼姆通讯社都报道了浓缩铀的产量增加。他们表示，这一消息来自于伊朗核机构的发言人。该官员表示，伊朗在几周内将会达到核协议规定的300公斤的限制。他还说，伊朗政府已经向国际原子能机构通报了这一行动。

Trump’s comment came just hours after a Katyusha rocket fell in Baghdad’s Green Zone, about 1.5 kilometers from the U.S. Embassy. No injuries were reported.

川普发出评论的几个小时之前，一枚喀秋莎火箭落入了巴格达的绿区，距离美国大使馆大约1.5公里，没有人受伤。

An Iraqi military official told the Associated Press that the rocket was fired from East Baghdad. That area is home to many Iran-supported militias.

一位伊拉克军方官员告诉美联社说，这枚火箭是从巴格达东部发射的，该地区是许多伊朗支持的民兵的基地。

Trump wrote on Twitter, “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!”

川普在推特上写道：“如果伊朗想打，那将会是伊朗的正式终结。永远别再威胁美国！”

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that Trump was making “genocidal taunts. He ended his tweet with “Try respect – it works!”

伊朗外长穆罕默德·贾瓦德·扎里夫（Mohammad Javad Zarif）在推特上表示，川普是在制造种族灭绝的嘲讽。他在推文最后写道：“试试尊重吧——这管用！”

Other developments

其它事态发展

Trump ordered the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and strengthened sanctions against Iran. The U.S. government also has warned of actions against other nations if they import Iranian oil.

川普下令美国退出2015年与伊朗的核协议，并加强对伊朗的制裁。美国还警告说，如果其它国家进口伊朗石油，就会对他们采取行动。

Iran just announced it was backing away from the nuclear deal in which Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium if sanctions were removed. Iran has given European countries 60 days to come up with a new deal or it will begin enriching uranium at a higher level.

伊朗刚刚宣布退出核协议中关于伊朗同意在解除制裁后限制其铀浓缩的内容。伊朗已经给予欧洲国家60天时间来达成一项新的协议，否则它将会开始浓缩更高水平的铀。

Iran has always said it does not seek nuclear weapons. But Western nations have questioned this claim.

伊朗一直声称该国不寻求核武器，但是西方国家质疑这一主张。

Appearing on Fox News television on Sunday, Trump called the 2015 nuclear deal a “horror show.”

川普周日在福克斯新闻电视台上称2015年核协议是一场“恐怖秀”。

“I just don’t want them to have nuclear weapons and they can’t be threatening us,” he said.

他说：“我只是希望他们没有核武器，也没法威胁我们。”

Yet the nuclear deal had prevented Iran from getting enough highly-enriched uranium for a bomb. United Nations inspectors repeatedly said that Iran was honoring the deal.

然而核协议阻止了伊朗获得足够多的高浓缩铀用于制造核弹。联合国观察员多次表示，伊朗正在履行这项协议。

On Sunday, the U.S. Navy announced it would begin security patrols in international waters along with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The council includes many Gulf States.

周日，美国海军宣布将会同海湾合作委员会成员国一起开始在国际水域进行安全巡逻。该委员会包括许多海湾国家。

Words In This Story

pose – v. to offer for consideration; to come to attention as

taunt – v. to say insulting things to someone to make him angry

sanctions – n. an action taken against a country to force it to do something or stop something

patrol – n. the act of moving through an area to make sure it is safe