VOA常速英语2020--延期对伊朗的武器禁运

Next, an editorial reflecting the Views of the U.S. Government. One of the most dangerous provisions of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, is the expiration¹ later this year of the United Nations arms embargo² against Iran: “It’s now just several months out where China, Russia, other countries from around the world can all sell significant conventional weapons systems to the Iranians in October of this year. This isn’t far off. This isn’t some fantasy by conservatives. This is a reality. Does anybody think that the nation that today is conducting terror campaigns by Lebanese Hezbollah or Iraqi Shia movements or firing military missiles into the air ought to be permitted to purchase conventional weapons systems in just a few months?”

接下来是一篇反映美国政府观点的社论。美国国务卿蓬佩奥表示，2015年伊朗核协议中最危险的条款之一，是联合国对伊朗的武器禁运将于今年晚些时候到期。“今年十月，中国、俄罗斯以及世界各国都可以向伊朗出售重要常规武器系统，距离十月只剩下几个月的时间了……离现在并不远了。这不是保守派的幻想。这是现实。现在伊朗凭借黎巴嫩真主党或伊拉克什叶派发起恐怖活动或空中发射军事导弹，有人认为这样一个国家应该在几个月内就获得购买常规武器系统的许可吗？”

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook has pointed³ out that even while the embargo prohibiting Iran from importing or exporting conventional weapons has been in effect, the Iranian regime has been repeatedly caught exporting weapons to its allies in the region, intensifying⁴ and prolonging sectarian conflicts. “Letting the arms embargo expire would make it considerably⁵ easier for Iran to ship weapons to its allies in Syria, Hamas in Gaza, and Shiite militias⁶ in Iraq,” Special Representative Hook wrote in The Wall Street Journal. He also warned that Iran plans to improve the accuracy of its missiles and strengthen its ability to strike ships and shoot down aircraft. Since 2007, the United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to ban the export and restrict the import of arms for Iran. The United States recently drafted a new resolution that extends the prohibition⁷ on Iranian arms, and is working with all relevant parties to pass it.

美国伊朗事务特别代表Brian Hook指出，尽管伊朗的常规武器进出口禁运的禁令已经生效，但伊朗政权多次被抓到向其地区盟友出口武器，加剧并延长了教派冲突。特别代表胡克在《华尔街日报》上写道：“让武器禁运到期，将使伊朗更容易向叙利亚盟友、加沙哈马斯武装和伊拉克什叶派民兵运送武器。”。他还警告说，伊朗计划提高导弹的精度，并加强打击船只和击落飞机的能力。 自2007年以来，联合国安理会一致通过了禁止伊朗进出口武器的决议。美国近期起草了一项新的决议，即延期对伊朗的武器禁运，并正与所有相关各方合作通过该决议。

1 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

2 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

3 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

4 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

5 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

6 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

7 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。