VOA标准英语2013--伊朗与世界大国在核问题上再次会谈

 

Iran, World Powers to Meet Again on Nuclear Issues 伊朗与世界大国在核问题上再次会谈

STATE DEPARTMENT — International nuclear negotiators will meet with Iran's foreign minister again this week for talks on limiting the country's nuclear program. Some  nations fear that Tehran may be trying to develop atomic weapons. Iran is hoping to bring to an end crippling economic sanctions by offering new proposals at the  upcoming negotiations¹. However, U.S. allies Israel and Saudi Arabia believe the Obama administration is moving too quickly.

As the United Nations nuclear agency reports "productive" talks with Iran over long-delayed inspections² of its atomic facilities, the United States says it welcomes  the opportunity to test whether Iran is willing to submit to international standards.

"Some have suggested that somehow there’s something wrong with even putting that to the test. I suggest that the idea that the United States of America as a  responsible nation to all of humankind would not explore that possibility would be the height of irresponsibility and dangerous in itself, and we will not succumb³ to  those fear tactics and forces that suggest otherwise," said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Among those concerned about overtures⁴ from Iran's new government are long-time U.S. allies Israel and Saudi Arabia.

"When you hear the Saudis talking about what needs to be done in order to prevent a [nuclear-armed] Iran, I mean it sounds familiar. I think that you can hear that  Arabic sounds familiar to Hebrew when it comes to Iran," said Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.

Livni also said that Israel wants to cooperate with Arab governments that are equally wary⁵ of Iran.

"Unfortunately, the open conflict between Israel and the Palestinians makes it impossible or very difficult for them to act with Israel against Iran. Because when it  comes to public opinion in their own state, Israel is still the enemy," explained Livni.

Washington has not done enough to ease Saudi and Israeli concerns about these nuclear talks, according to Adam Ereli, the former U.S. ambassador to Bahrain.

"Their nervousness is understandable because they're seeing what is happening in Washington and New York, and they're not hearing anything differently privately⁶ from  senior levels of the U.S. government," said Ereli.

He believes that the nervousness about Iran's intentions is well founded.

"I think their goal is to develop a nuclear weapon. And they're not going to accept limitations that prevent them from that, even for sanctions relief," said Ereli.

Iran claims that it is not trying to develop atomic weapons, but is merely pursuing a peaceful civilian⁷ nuclear program. Iranian state media said talks in late October  with the U.N. nuclear watchdog broke the "deadlock⁸" between Iran and the agency.

Progress on negotiations follows the election of President Hassan Rouhani, who is setting a new course for Iran, according to American University professor Akbar  Ahmed.

"I think there's a belief already coming out of Iran that we can and we must work within the international quarter, within the frame of the community of nations, and  that we want to come in out of the cold," said Ahmed.

Kerry points out that the United States expects concrete action from Iran, not just talk.

"Our eyes are wide open. The actions must be real. They must be fully⁹ verifiable. They must get the job done. And no words can replace those actions," said Kerry.

Kerry made plain that only verifiable actions will lead to the easing of U.S. and European Union sanctions. The sanctions have seen Iranian oil exports fall by more  than one million barrels per day, fueling inflation and undermining the value of Iran's currency. 

1 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。

2 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 succumb   

v.屈服，屈从；死

参考例句：

• They will never succumb to the enemies.他们决不向敌人屈服。
• Will business leaders succumb to these ideas?商业领袖们会被这些观点折服吗？

4 overtures   

n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲

参考例句：

• Their government is making overtures for peace. 他们的政府正在提出和平建议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had lately begun to make clumsy yet endearing overtures of friendship. 最近他开始主动表示友好，样子笨拙却又招人喜爱。 来自辞典例句

5 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

6 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

7 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

8 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

9 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。