美国国会致函伊朗惹争议

 　　WASHINGTON—Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said a letter by 47 Republican senators sent directly to Iran's government "was out of step with the best traditions of American leadership" and undermined sensitive, international talks with the Islamic Republic to curb¹ its nuclear program.

　　"Either these senators were trying to be helpful to the Iranians or harmful to the commander-in-chief in the midst of high-stakes international diplomacy," Clinton said in a news conference Tuesday at the United Nations. "Either answer does discredit² to the letter's signatories."

　　Clinton had served in the Senate, representing New York State, from 2001 until becoming the nation's chief diplomat³ in 2009, appointed by President Barack Obama.

　　Her comments added to those of Vice⁴ President Joe Biden and other Democrats⁵ chastising⁷ the Republican senators.

　　US Congressional Letter to Iran Stirs Controversy⁸

　　They said an open letter to the leaders of Iran signed by the lawmakers could damage the diplomatic talks, adding that it is a move tantamount to rushing to war with Tehran.

　　The letter comes just weeks before a late-March deadline for the so-called P5+1 world powers to reach a deal with Iran. Besides the United States, they include China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom.

　　Biden, who was a senator for 36 years, said the letter threatens to undermine the ability of future presidents to negotiate international agreements and "is beneath the dignity of an institution I revere⁹."

　　"This letter sends a highly misleading signal to friend and foe¹⁰ alike that our commander-in-chief cannot deliver on America's commitments – a message that is as false as it is dangerous," Biden wrote in a statement late Monday.

　　He said the senators also offered "no viable¹¹ alternative" to the ongoing¹² nuclear negotiations¹³.

　　The Republicans' letter warned any nuclear agreement could be modified or revoked¹⁵ once Obama leaves office in early 2017.

　　A prominent political scientist said that while the letter is extraordinary and unusual, it is legitimate¹⁶ for the lawmakers to write it.

　　Authored by freshman¹⁷ senator

　　The letter, authored by freshman Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton and co-signed by 46 other lawmakers, seeks to inform Iran’s leaders that any nuclear agreement involving the United States could face constitutional hurdles¹⁸.

　　It states that, while the president can negotiate international agreements, Congress plays "a significant role" in ratifying¹⁹ them. It says a so-called congressional-executive agreement requires a majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, where a three-fifths majority of 100 senators is needed.

　　The letter also warned that any agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons program that is not approved by the Congress will be viewed as nothing more than an executive agreement that could be revoked by a future president or modified by Congress.

　　Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, denounced the letter Tuesday as having "no legal value" and dismissed it as "mostly a propaganda ploy²⁰." He said "the conduct of inter-state relations is governed by international law and not by U.S. domestic law."

　　"This kind of communication is unprecedented²¹ and undiplomatic," Zarif was quoted as saying by a state-run TV website. "In fact, it implies that the United States is not trustworthy" if any nuclear deal could be scrapped²² once Obama leaves office.

　　Zarif warned future revocation²³ of any agreement "would be a blatant²⁴ violation²⁵ of international law."

　　Partisan²⁶ divide

　　The letter seemed to harden partisan lines in the Senate, where Republicans will need Democrats' support to pass legislation now in the works to tighten²⁷ sanctions on Iran or require congressional approval of a deal.

　　Senate Democratic Leader Harry²⁸ Reid spoke²⁹ out against the Republicans' "unprecedented" intervention³⁰ in sensitive international negotiations "with the sole goal of embarrassing the president of the United States."

　　"This is a cynical³¹ effort by Republican senators to undermine sensitive international negotiations. It weakens America's hand and highlights our political divisions to the rest of the world," said Richard Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat⁶.

　　A spokeswoman for Cotton said his office had invited several Democrats to co-sign but none had done so.

　　Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's signature is on the letter; he said lawmakers should be suspicious of an administration that is intent on keeping Congress out of the emerging deal with Iran.

　　Several prospective³² presidential candidates also signed, including Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. He said he would "sign the letter again tomorrow," calling it an extraordinarily³³ important matter.

　　One Republican who did not sign was Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker. An aide said Corker is focused on getting a veto-proof majority to support his legislation, backed by both Republicans and Democrats, that would require Congress' authorization³⁴ of an Iran deal.

　　Susan Collins of Maine also declined to sign. She told VOA that she didn't think the letter was appropriate and that she couldn't imagine the ayatollahs in Iran would care what Republican senators think.

　　Senate historian Don Ritchie told VOA it's highly unusual for lawmakers to write to a foreign leader disagreeing with the president.

　　Aligns³⁵ party with Iran hardliners

　　Asked about the letter Monday, Obama said the U.S. lawmakers have aligned³⁶ themselves with those in Iran opposed to the negotiations.

　　"I think it’s somewhat ironic³⁷ to see some members of Congress wanting to make common cause with the hard-liners in Iran. It’s an unusual coalition," the president said. "I think what we’re going to focus on now is actually seeing whether we can get a deal or not and, if we do, then we will be able to make the case to the American people, and I’m confident we’ll be able to implement³⁸."

　　Sunday, Obama acknowledged that gaps in the negotiating positions remain before a self-imposed, month's-end deadline to reach a framework agreement. He warned he would walk away from the talks without proper transparency and verification that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon.

　　'Partisan strategy'

　　White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the letter represents "a partisan strategy to undermine the president’s ability to conduct foreign policy" and advance U.S. national security interests.

　　"We have heard Republicans now, for quite some time, including the principal author of this letter, make clear that their goal is to undermine these negotiations," Earnest said.

　　State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the letter is designed "to score political points” and that Congress doesn’t have the power to alter the terms of international arrangements negotiated by the executive. She said any agreement reached would not be a treaty requiring Senate ratification³⁹.

　　Also, this is "a negotiation¹⁴. It’s important for us to send this message to our partners around the world that it is with not just the United States and Iran, but with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union, China and Russia," Psaki said.

　　Unusual, not out of bounds

　　Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia, said the letter by U.S. lawmakers to a foreign government is both extraordinary and unusual, and represents an escalation⁴⁰ of the political battle started last November when Republicans took control of both houses of Congress following elections.

　　"They can’t pass much because they don’t control Congress. They don’t have sufficient numbers in either the House or the Senate to be able to overcome their factionalism or the Senate rules," Sabato said. "But, what they do have is the ability to send a letter like this and affect negotiations on a major treaty or executive agreement."

　　He said the letter can be criticized on the basis of judgment⁴¹, but it is not outside the boundaries of the Constitution.

　　"In fact, because the legislature is a co-equal branch of government, it is completely legitimate for them to do this. Whether it is wise is another question," Sabato said.

　　He added that if any agreement reached with Iran is not submitted to the Senate as a treaty, it will be treated as an executive agreement, which can be revoked by a succeeding president. He added he has no doubt Iran's leaders are making that part of their calculus⁴².

　　Sabato said that if Obama wishes any nuclear agreement with Tehran to last, he would have to submit it to the Senate for ratification.

1 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

2 discredit   

vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑

参考例句：

• Their behaviour has bought discredit on English football.他们的行为败坏了英国足球运动的声誉。
• They no longer try to discredit the technology itself.他们不再试图怀疑这种技术本身。

3 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 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》

6 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

7 chastising   

v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Jo was chastising his teddy bear in the living room. 乔在起居室里严厉地惩罚他的玩具小狗熊。 来自辞典例句

8 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

9 revere   

vt.尊崇，崇敬，敬畏

参考例句：

• Students revere the old professors.学生们十分尊敬那些老教授。
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven.中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。

10 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

11 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

12 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

13 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。

14 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

15 revoked   

adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It may be revoked if the check is later dishonoured. 以后如支票被拒绝支付，结算可以撤销。 来自辞典例句
• A will is revoked expressly. 遗嘱可以通过明示推翻。 来自辞典例句

16 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

17 freshman   

n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女)

参考例句：

• Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college.杰克决定大一时住校。
• He is a freshman in the show business.他在演艺界是一名新手。

18 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

19 ratifying   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They call their State Assembly a disgrace for ratifying the 35th. 他们把州议会通过的第35号修正案说成是可耻的行为。 来自辞典例句
• The Obama administration, unlike its predecessor, talks of ratifying the test-ban treaty. 该会议五年举办一次，回顾其间发生的事情。 来自互联网

20 ploy   

n.花招，手段

参考例句：

• I think this is just a government ploy to deceive the public.我认为这只是政府欺骗公众的手段。
• Christmas should be a time of excitement and wonder,not a cynical marketing ploy.圣诞节应该是兴奋和美妙的时刻，而不该是一种肆无忌惮的营销策略。

21 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。

22 scrapped   

废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架

参考例句：

• This machine is so old that it will soon have to be scrapped. 这架机器太旧，快报废了。
• It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. 人们曾认为会放开护照管制。

23 revocation   

n.废止，撤回

参考例句：

• the revocation of planning permission 建筑许可的撤销
• The revocation of the Edict of Nantes was signed here in 1685. 1685年南特敕令的废除是在这里宣布的。 来自互联网

24 blatant   

adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的

参考例句：

• I cannot believe that so blatant a comedy can hoodwink anybody.我无法相信这么显眼的一出喜剧能够欺骗谁。
• His treatment of his secretary was a blatant example of managerial arrogance.他管理的傲慢作风在他对待秘书的态度上表露无遗。

25 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。

26 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

27 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

28 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

29 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

30 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

31 cynical   

adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的

参考例句：

• The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大，他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
• He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。

32 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

33 extraordinarily   

adv.格外地；极端地

参考例句：

• She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
• The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨，大海出奇地宁静。

34 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

35 aligns   

使成一线( align的第三人称单数 )； 排整齐； 校准； 公开支持（某人、集体或观点）

参考例句：

• HASP SRM fully aligns with the software product lifecycle. HASPSRM完全遵循软件产品的生命周期。
• Significant employee aligns the interests of our employees and our shareholders. 员工大量持股可以使员工与股东的利益协调一致。

36 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。

37 ironic   

adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”，但他们是在挖苦我。

38 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

39 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

40 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

41 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

42 calculus   

n.微积分；结石

参考例句：

• This is a problem where calculus won't help at all.对于这一题，微积分一点也用不上。
• After studying differential calculus you will be able to solve these mathematical problems.学了微积分之后，你们就能够解这些数学题了。