2006年VOA标准英语-Iran Says Imposition of Sanctions Would Pr

By Challiss McDonough
Cairo
30 April 2006

Iran has warned that it will take "radical¹ measures" if the U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions over Iran's nuclear program. But the Foreign Ministry² also says Iran will cooperate fully³ with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, if its case is referred back there.

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Iran is continuing efforts to head off international action over its nuclear program, combining promises of cooperation with vows⁴ never to back down.

 

Hamid Reza Asefi  
  

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters, Iran is open to dialogue, but he said the imposition of sanctions would provoke a strong response.

"If the Security Council discusses Iran's case and decides against us, Iran will keep all its options open," he said. "This means that if their decision is radical, Iran's reaction will be radical. If it is rational, our decisions will also be rational."

The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency reported to the Security Council on Friday that Iran has failed to comply with Security Council demands that it stop its nuclear-enrichment program.

Iran says it has successfully enriched uranium to the level needed for nuclear power plants, and insists that the process is irreversible. Tehran says the international community must now deal with it as a nuclear power.

Western nations believe Tehran could be building a nuclear bomb. Iranian leaders have denied that, and say their nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

The United States, France and Britain want the Security Council to legally require Iran to freeze its nuclear-enrichment activity. Such a decision could pave the way for sanctions, if Iran still fails to comply. But the two other veto-holding nations on the Security Council, Russia and China, favor continued diplomatic efforts.

Iran has made several attempts to have the case referred back to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

On Saturday, Iran offered to let the agency, known as the IAEA, resume snap inspections⁵ of its nuclear facilities.

Asefi says if the agency and the Security Council commit to dealing⁶ with the case only through the IAEA, in his words, "We are ready for maximum cooperation."

Speaking in Pakistan, Iran's deputy oil minister said he doubts the Security Council will impose sanctions on Iran, because it would increase oil prices.

Iran has 10 percent of the world's proven oil reserves and is the second-largest producer in OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum⁷ Exporting Countries).

The foreign ministers of the five Security Council members plus Germany are scheduled to meet in New York in one week to discuss the next step.

1 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

5 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》

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。