2007年VOA标准英语-Ahmadinejad Says Iran Will Stop Nuclear Enrichm

By Challiss McDonough
Cairo
20 February 2007

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during a public gathering, 20 Feb 2007

The president of Iran says he is willing to hold talks with the West over his controversial nuclear program. But he says he will only stop enriching uranium if the West stops too. VOA Correspondent Challiss McDonough has more from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

The Iranian president said he is open to negotiations² over Iran's nuclear program, but he said they must take place under just conditions. He rejected the West's preconditions for holding talks.

President Ahmadinejad said he is willing to shut down Iran's uranium-enrichment program, if the Western nations that have been pressuring him to do so shut theirs down as well.

He said, "You demand that we close our nuclear fuel production plant before talks begin. This is no problem. But justice requires that you must shut down your nuclear fuel cycle too."

The remarks were made in northern Iran and broadcast on national television a day before the latest U.N. Security Council deadline is to expire for Iran to halt uranium enrichment. The Security Council imposed limited sanctions on Iran in late December, and gave the country 60 days to comply before facing additional measures.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is scheduled to report to the Security Council on Friday about Iran's compliance³ with the U.N. demands.

Mr. Ahmadinejad warned his Western critics that further attempts to pressure Iran will only unite the country.

He said, "The entire Iranian nation is steadfastly⁴ resisting, and will defend its nuclear rights until the end."

Diplomatic efforts were intensifying⁵ as the U.N. deadline drew near. Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, was in Vienna for talks with IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei.

The United States and several of its European allies believe Iran is secretly trying to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its nuclear program is entirely⁶ peaceful and designed only to produce nuclear energy.

Washington says it wants to resolve the crisis through diplomacy⁷, but it has not ruled out the use of military force.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

4 steadfastly   

adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝

参考例句：

• So he sat, with a steadfastly vacant gaze, pausing in his work. 他就像这样坐着，停止了工作，直勾勾地瞪着眼。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• Defarge and his wife looked steadfastly at one another. 德伐日和他的妻子彼此凝视了一会儿。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

5 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。