VOA常速英语2013--美以关系因伊朗核问题而紧张

 

Tensions Escalate¹ Between US, Israel Over Iran Nuclear Talks 美以关系因伊朗核问题而紧张

The U.S. alliance with Israel is being strained by deep disagreements over a possible deal with Iran regarding that country’s controversial nuclear program. 

It was just eight months ago that President Barack Obama visited Israel.  It was the first foreign trip of his second term - designed to improve relations with Israeli  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which have been stressed over the Palestinian conflict.

就在8个月前，巴拉克·奥巴马总统刚访问过以色列。这是他第二任期的首次对外出访，这是为了改善与以色列总理本杰明·内塔尼亚胡的关系而来，两人关系因巴勒斯坦冲突而紧张。

But now the two men are at serious odds² again - this time over nuclear negotiations³ with Iran.

现在两人的关系再度紧张，这次是因为伊朗的核谈判。

Benjamin Netanyahu:

本杰明·内塔尼亚胡：

"It's clear that this agreement is good only for Iran, and that it's really bad for the rest of the world.  Iran's dream deal is the world's nightmare," he said.

“很明显协议只对伊朗有好处，而对全世界其他国家都是坏处。伊朗梦寐以求的交易就是全世界的噩梦。”

Israel is concerned Iran is too close to building a bomb - and wants its nuclear capabilities⁴ rolled back. Iran says its program is peaceful, and the U.S. is pressing  international diplomacy⁵ to resolve the dispute.

以色列担心伊朗很快就能制造核弹，因此希望削弱其核武器的能力。伊朗称其项目是和平的，美国正利用国际外交施压来解决这一争议。

Dennis Ross, a former senior advisor⁶ on Iran to President Obama, sees merits in Israel's position.

丹尼斯·罗斯是总统奥巴马的前伊朗问题高级顾问，他看到以色列立场的价值。

“Even if you are slowing the clock or freezing it, you are freezing it at a level that basically is unacceptable.  Because that level would allow the Iranians to have  a break out capability⁷ and you are not reversing the program," said Ross.

“即使是放慢或冻结这个项目，其冻结的程度也基本上是不可接受的。因为这个程度会使得伊朗获得突破能力，而你却无法扭转这个项目。”

The U.S. stance has also angered another key ally in the region: Saudi Arabia.  In what analysts⁹ see as an unprecedented¹⁰ development, Israel and many Sunni Arab  nations are aligned¹¹ in their concerns about Iran.

美国的立场也令该地区的另一位关键盟友沙特愤怒，以色列和沙特阿拉伯国家集体对伊朗表示担忧，分析家认为这是前所未有的进展。

Adam Ereli, a Middle East expert and former U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain, says this puts the U.S. in a delicate position.

艾瑞里是中东问题专家，也是前美国驻巴林大使，他说这使得美国处于微妙的位置。

“Let’s not forget our close and steadfast¹² and important allies in the region who not only rely on us, but who we rely on for our national security," said Ereli.

“不要忘了我们在该地区亲密、坚定的重要盟友，它们不仅依赖我们，我们在国家安全方面也依赖它们。”

Israel has threatened to bomb Iran if it gets too close to making a nuclear weapon, despite U.S. efforts to tone down the harsh rhetoric¹³.  Analysts don’t believe  Israel will attack during negotiations between world powers and Iran.

如果伊朗很快就能制造核武器，以色列威胁要轰炸伊朗，而不顾美国试图缓和严厉言辞的努力。分析家认为伊朗会在世界大国和伊朗协商期间发动袭击。

But analyst⁸ Robert Satloff says Israel's impatience¹⁴ is growing.

但分析家罗伯特·沙特罗夫说以色列越来越不耐烦。

“I think the likelihood of Israeli military action against Iran has gone way up," said Satloff.

“我认为以色列对伊朗采取军事行动的可能性在上升。”

Satloff says the current Israeli government feels it has been left out in the cold.

沙特罗夫说目前以色列政府认为自己遭受冷落。

That could have a negative impact on the Middle East peace process, which the U.S. is spearheading.

这会对美国领导下的中东和平进程造成负面影响。

“And that is because the crisis of confidence between the United States and Israel will have an impact on this diplomacy," said Satloff.

“这是因为美国和以色列之间的信任危机会影响外交。”

Looking away from the U.S., Netanyahu has met with the Presidents of France and Russia to appeal for tough terms on a nuclear accord with Iran.

内塔尼亚胡将美国抛到一边，会见了法国和俄罗斯总统，呼吁在伊朗核协议中采取强硬措施。

Despite the deep disagreements with Netanyahu., Secretary of State John Kerry says the Obama administration will not let down its key ally.

尽管非常不认同内塔尼亚胡的做法，国务卿约翰·克里说奥巴马政府不会令盟友失望。

“We believe deeply in our commitment to Israel, deeply, " said Kerry.

“我们十分相信对以色列的承诺。”

Kerry says the United States will not accept any deal that allows Iran to buy time to increase its nuclear capability and further threaten Israel.

克里说美国不会接受任何允许伊朗有时间加强核能力和未来会威胁以色列的协议。

1 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

2 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

3 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。

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 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。

6 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

7 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

10 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

11 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

12 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

13 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

14 impatience   

n.不耐烦，急躁

参考例句：

• He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢，他显得不耐烦。
• He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。