VOA标准英语2013--伊朗核谈判面临的棘手问题

 

Thorny¹ Issues Remain for Iran Nuclear Negotiators 伊朗核谈判面临的棘手问题

The hard work that led to a temporary agreement limiting Iran's nuclear program will likely lead to more difficult talks on a permanent deal. The interim² accord is  being debated - and criticized - in the United States and Israel.

The nuclear agreement with Iran is supported by Americans two-to-one, according to a public opinion poll.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "historic mistake.""So, Israel is not bound by this agreement. We cannot and will not allow a regime that  calls for the destruction of Israel to obtain the means to achieve this goal. We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapons capability," said Netanyahu.

The interim agreement requires Iran to stop enriching uranium at current levels, freeze further work on centrifuges, and halt major activity at the Arak reactor³,  designed to produce plutonium.

The agreement also suspends some U.S. and EU economic sanctions and prohibits new ones for the life of the 6-month deal.

Reaction in Congress has been mixed.  Some Democrats⁴, and many Republicans, like Senator Lindsey Graham, say it's a bad deal.

"This deal doesn't require them to shut down the plutonium reactor.  This deal doesn't require them to dismantle⁵ their ability to enrich uranium, that could lead to a  nuclear weapon.  It gives them $7 billion.  They get the cash, and we really don't get much," said Graham.

However, the remaining sanctions will outweigh⁶ sanctions relief, according to Daryl Kimball, executive director of Washington's independent Arms Control Association.

"The sanctions relief that Iran will be getting through the course of the six-month agreement is worth less than $10 billion.  Meanwhile, there will be an additional  $15-20 billion in Iranian assets that are frozen during the duration of this agreement," said Kimball.

And Iran will not be able to expand oil exports.

If a permanent agreement is not reached within six months, Kimball says the first stage could be extended, or Congress could vote to impose additional sanctions  against Iran.

Economic sanctions are working and should be tightened⁷, not eased, says Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss.

"We've trusted the Iranians before, just like the North Koreans, on nuclear issues, and what have we gotten for it?" asked Chambliss.

Further sanctions would be counterproductive, says Daryll Kimball.

"That would be a direct violation⁸ of the agreement, and the Iranians have said that they will not carry out their steps, the constraints⁹ on their program that they  have agreed to," he said.

So, while negotiators work toward a comprehensive deal, officials in the U.S. will continue to debate the merits of the interim accord.

1 thorny   

adj.多刺的，棘手的

参考例句：

• The young captain is pondering over a thorny problem.年轻的上尉正在思考一个棘手的问题。
• The boys argued over the thorny points in the lesson.孩子们辩论功课中的难点。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 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。

4 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

6 outweigh   

vt.比...更重，...更重要

参考例句：

• The merits of your plan outweigh the defects.你制定的计划其优点胜过缺点。
• One's merits outweigh one's short-comings.功大于过。

7 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

8 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

9 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓