VOA标准英语2009-Iran Seeks Guarantees on Nuclear Deal

Iran says it is not opposed to sending its low-enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment, as long as it receives fuel for its nuclear reactor¹ at the very same time.

Elizabeth Arrott | Cairo, Egypt 24 November 2009

Iran says it is not opposed to sending its low-enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment, as long as it receives fuel for its nuclear reactor at the very same time.

Foreign Ministry² Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters Tuesday that Tehran wants a 100 percent guarantee that there will be a simultaneous exchange on Iranian soil.

Iran has so far resisted a proposed U.N.-backed deal intended to ease Western concerns about Tehran's nuclear program.

Under that plan, Iran would send more than 70 percent of its low-enriched uranium stockpile to Russia and France.  The uranium would be converted into fuel rods and returned to Iran in about a year for use in an Iranian medical research reactor. 

Western nations say Iran's nuclear program is aimed at creating weapons, but Tehran insists it is for peaceful purposes.

The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, plus Germany, are considering tougher measures against Iran for stalling on the deal.  But .. and Russia are reluctant to put on more pressure.

Tehran is already under international sanctions for its failure to halt uranium enrichment activities.

1 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。