VOA双语新闻 Iranian Nuclear Program

Secretary of State Colin Powell says it is increasingly likely that the issue of Iran's nuclear program will have to be referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. Speaking to reporters in Kuwait, the latest stop on his trip to the Middle East, Mr. Powell said Iran's latest nuclear moves are troubling.

美国国务卿鲍威尔表示，把伊朗核项目提交到联合国安理会处理，以施加制裁的可能性越来越大。鲍威尔目前在科威特、也就是他的中东行程的最后一站。他说，伊朗最近的核动作十分令人困扰。

The Bush administration has long held that Iran has a covert¹ nuclear-weapons program. But it has refrained from taking the issue to the U.N. Security Council, hoping that pressure from key European allies, Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency will persuade Tehran to change course.

布什政府长久以来一直认为伊朗在秘密发展核武器，但是却不愿意将这个问题提交到联合国安理会。美国希望，来自主要的欧洲盟国、俄罗斯和国际原子能机构的压力，能够说服伊朗改变做法。

In a talk with reporters traveling with him in Kuwait, Mr. Powell made clear that U.S. patience on the issue is running out, saying "it is more and more likely" that the matter will have to be referred to the Security Council.

鲍威尔在科威特向随行记者表示，美国对这个问题已经渐渐失去耐心。他说，目前越来越有可能把这个问题提交到安理会。

The United States said earlier this week that Iran had mounted a direct challenge to the IAEA, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. The U.S. statement came after diplomats² in Vienna said Iran had resumed construction and assembly of uranium-enriching centrifuges.

美国本星期稍早表示，伊朗已经直接挑战联合国的核监督机构国际原子能机构。此前，在维也纳的外交人士说，伊朗已经恢复浓缩铀离心机的建造和装配。

Under an agreement reached last year with the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, Iran committed to suspending sensitive nuclear activity and allowing tougher international inspections³.

在去年同英国、法国和德国的外交部长签署的协定中，伊朗承诺要停止敏感的核活动，并且允许国际社会进行更严格的核查。

Mr. Powell said here Iran has not met its commitment, and the three European governments and the rest of the international community must consider the consequences for Tehran.

鲍威尔说，伊朗到目前为止都没有履行承诺，因此这三个欧洲国家以及国际社会的其他成员必须考虑德黑兰应该面对什么样的后果。

"Now Iran has made it clear that they do not intend to abide⁴ by all of those commitments," he said. "My three foreign minister colleagues are concerned about this and they are working on the problem, and I stay in close touch with them. But I have made it clear to them that we believe they must insist on their commitments being met, that they receive from the Iranians. And they have to factor it into any other actions the European Union might be thinking of taking, either in the economic sphere, the political sphere or elsewhere. It is a very troubling development."

鲍威尔说：“现在伊朗已经明确表示不打算实现这些承诺。欧洲三个国家的外交部长对此表示关切，正在争取解决这个问题，我与他们保持密切联系。但是我也向他们清楚表明，我们认为这些国家应该坚持，协议中伊朗做出的承诺必须切实履行。他们必须将这一点列入欧盟可能会采取的行动范围，包括在经济领域、政治领域或其他方面。这是令人十分困扰的变化。”

Mr. Powell said the IAEA board would review the Iranian nuclear program at meetings in September and November. The 35-nation board could, at either meeting, decide to refer the matter to the Security Council.

鲍威尔说，国际原子能机构将在9月和11月召开的理事会上重新审视伊朗的核项目。这个包含三十五个成员国的理事会可能会在这两个会议中的某一个会议上决定将这个议题提交到安理会。

Iran has steadfastly⁵ insisted that its nuclear program, which includes a power reactor⁶ complex being built for it by Russia, is for peaceful purposes only. But U.S. officials, among others, have questioned why Iran, a major oil and gas producer, is investing huge sums for nuclear power plants and a uranium-enrichment capability⁷.

 伊朗坚决表示，包括一座由俄罗斯建造的核反应堆在内的核项目只是用于和平用途。但是，美国官员质疑，为什么像伊朗这个主要的石油和天然气生产国需要投资大量的资金建设核电厂和浓缩铀的设施。
 

1 covert   

adj.隐藏的；暗地里的

参考例句：

• We should learn to fight with enemy in an overt and covert way.我们应学会同敌人做公开和隐蔽的斗争。
• The army carried out covert surveillance of the building for several months.军队对这座建筑物进行了数月的秘密监视。

2 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》

3 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》

4 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

5 steadfastly   

adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝

参考例句：

• So he sat, with a steadfastly vacant gaze, pausing in his work. 他就像这样坐着，停止了工作，直勾勾地瞪着眼。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• Defarge and his wife looked steadfastly at one another. 德伐日和他的妻子彼此凝视了一会儿。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

6 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。

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。