2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Administration Says No Security Guara

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
21 May 2006

The Bush administration says it has not been asked by European negotiators to provide security guarantees to Iran.  The dispute over Iran's nuclear intentions is likely to play a prominent role later this week, when President Bush meets with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

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There have been media reports in recent days that European negotiators believe security assurances from the United States might help convince Iran to curb¹ its nuclear program.

Condoleezza Rice  
  
The United States has made no secret of the fact it is cool to the idea. During an appearance on the Fox News Sunday television program, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said no such request has been made.

"Let me set the record straight," she said. "We have not been asked to provide security assurances to Iran."

Rice said the United States is consulting with diplomats² from Britain, France, and Germany on a package of steps designed to put pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear enrichment activities.

Iran says its nuclear program is designed to produce electricity. But the United States and its allies maintain, what Iran really wants to do is develop a nuclear bomb.

Rice stressed Iran's nuclear activities must be seen in the context of its threats against Israel and its support for terrorism. She called Iran a troublemaker³ in the international community.

"It is obvious that, in addition to the nuclear issue, we have other issues with Iran. We have a state in Iran that is devoted⁴ to the destruction of Israel," she said.

The nature of the Iranian threat to Israel is sure to be a topic of discussion Tuesday when President Bush meets at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

In an interview aired on CNN's Late Edition program, the Israeli leader said Iran is only months away from acquiring the technological⁵ knowledge needed to develop nuclear arms.

"This technological threshold is nearer than we anticipated before," said Mr. Olmert. "This is because they are already engaged very seriously in enrichment."

Mr. Olmert was asked if Israel might strike a suspected nuclear facility in Iran, much as it did in Iraq in 1981. He said the two situations cannot be compared, that the international community is far more aware of the danger posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions, and far more determined⁶ to find a solution.

"Thank God, now it is widely recognized by the international community, and, therefore, Israel doesn't have to act on its own," he said.

The prospects⁷ for peace with the Palestinians will also figure high in the White House talks. This is Ehud Olmert's first trip to Washington as Israel's head of government, and the first meeting between President Bush and an Israeli leader since Hamas won a majority in the Palestinian parliament.

Mr. Olmert told CNN that he hopes Hamas will one day recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce⁸ terrorism, but he added he believes the chance of that ever happening is very low.

1 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

2 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》

3 troublemaker   

n.惹是生非者，闹事者，捣乱者

参考例句：

• I would hate you to think me a troublemaker.我不愿你认为我是个搬弄是非的人。
• Li Yang has always been a troublemaker.李阳总是制造麻烦。

4 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

5 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

8 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。