伊朗核谈面临艰难的选择

 　　VIENNA, AUSTRIA —

　　A senior U.S. official said Tuesday a nuclear deal with Iran is still possible, if parties involved in the negotiations² return to the table ready to make tough political choices.

　　"We are probably closer than we’ve ever been because there is more of an alignment³ of that moment in history," the official, who did not wish to be named, told reporters in Vienna, adding “We don’t know if we can get there.”

　　Marie Harf, spokeswoman for the U.S. delegation⁴ gave similar indications earlier in the day telling reporters “We've made substantial progress in every area, but this work is highly technical and high stakes for all of the countries involved.”

　　Search for breakthrough

　　Senior US Official: Iran Nuclear Deal Hinges on Tough Choices

　　The comment followed an early morning meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry,  Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and other top diplomats⁶ in search of a breakthrough.

　　Later, the so-called P5 +1 nations, which includes the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, announced that they could not reach a comprehensive agreement by a July 7 deadline, agreed upon last week when a June 30 deadline expired, and would continue talks in Vienna.

　　Talks have now been extended until Friday.

　　Iranian negotiators had said there are no definitive⁷ deadlines. And Harf said the United States is "frankly⁸ more concerned about the quality of the deal than we are about the clock."

　　While acknowledging that "significant differences" remain, the White House said the talks created an opportunity to resolve the major differences that still exist and that it was worth continuing if a deal is close.

　　However, a Western diplomat⁵ in Vienna said the nuclear talks are not "open- ended" and have just been extended for the last time.

　　The envoy⁹ from an unnamed country told reporters Tuesday that "It's difficult to see why and how we could go on any longer. Either this works in the next 48 hours or it doesn't."

　　Sticking points

　　Officials in Vienna say three main sticking points remain to be hashed out: sanctions, a new draft U.N. resolution, and terms of inspections¹⁰ of Iran’s nuclear sites.

　　The agreement between Iran and the six powers would cut Iran's uranium enrichment program to keep it from being able to build a nuclear weapon. Sanctions that have wrecked¹¹ the Iranian economy would be eased and eventually lifted.

　　But a key stumbling block continued to be a push by Tehran to eliminate an arms ban and ballistic missile restrictions¹² contained in a new draft resolution being crafted by the P5+1 for the U.N. Security Council’s consideration. And Iran is also balking¹³ at Western demands for inspections of its military sites to verify it is living up to the deal. And

　　“We all believe the restrictions have to stay on the United Nations Security Council resolution,” the U.S. official explained. “The duration of that, the nature of it, how we will proceed, what the United Nations Security Council resolution is like, all of that is part of this negotiation¹.”

　　German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier added that Iran needed to "help build trust" by complying with monitoring demands.

　　"This means that we have to have monitoring possibilities available to have an overview¹⁴ as to whether Iran is fulfilling its obligations. We need to be sure that we have transparency concerning the promises Iran is making here," he told German broadcaster ARD.

　　As he was leaving the talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said questions pertaining¹⁵ to easing sanctions had been resolved, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Lavrov indicated there was still more negotiating to do, and that he planned to return to Vienna later in the week.

　　“Everything is moving, moving,” Lavrov said.

　　In Tehran, lawmaker Mansour Haqiqatpour said reaching a nuclear deal would depend on the six world powers' "decisiveness and resolve"

　　"We will not accept anything other than a good deal based on the Islamic

　　Republic of Iran's criteria," he said.

　　April deal remains¹⁶ in place

　　Meanwhile, the six negotiating powers said an interim¹⁷ deal with Tehran made in April will remain in place until July 10, giving officials more time to strike a final agreement.

　　If a deal is reached by Thursday, the U.S. Congress would have 30 days to review it and vote on whether to lift certain sanctions that lawmakers have imposed. After Thursday, the review period becomes 60 days.

　　The White House said President Obama will meet with Senate Democrats¹⁸ Tuesday night to discuss the Iran nuclear talks.

1 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。

2 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。

3 alignment   

n.队列；结盟，联合

参考例句：

• The church should have no political alignment.教会不应与政治结盟。
• Britain formed a close alignment with Egypt in the last century.英国在上个世纪与埃及结成了紧密的联盟。

4 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

5 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。

6 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

8 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

9 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

10 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》

11 wrecked   

adj.失事的，遇难的

参考例句：

• the hulk of a wrecked ship 遇难轮船的残骸
• the salvage of the wrecked tanker 对失事油轮的打捞

12 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

13 balking   

n.慢行，阻行v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的现在分词 )；（指马）不肯跑

参考例句：

• He picked up a stone and let fly at the balking dog. 他捡起一块石头朝那狂吠的狗扔去。 来自互联网
• Democrats won't pass the plan without votes from rank-and-file Republicans andof-and-file Republicans were reportedly balking. 没有普通共和党议员的支持，民主党人无法通过这项方案——到周四晚间，据悉那些普通共和党人在阻挡（该计划）。 来自互联网

14 overview   

n.概观，概述

参考例句：

• The opening chapter gives a brief historical overview of transport.第一章是运输史的简要回顾。
• The seminar aims to provide an overview on new media publishing.研讨会旨在综览新兴的媒体出版。

15 pertaining   

与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to)

参考例句：

• Living conditions are vastly different from those pertaining in their country of origin. 生活条件与他们祖国大不相同。
• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school. 视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。

16 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

17 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。

18 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》