2007年VOA标准英语-US Reports Swift Progress on New Iran Resolutio

By David Gollust
State Department
02 March 2007

U.S. officials are reporting rapid progress in talks among the major powers on a new U.N. Security Council resolution penalizing¹ Iran for refusing to stop enriching uranium.  An agreement among the council's permanent member countries on the main elements of a resolution is expected Saturday.

Reactor2 building of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant is seen, 26 Feb 2006" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070523/0934060.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Reactor building of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant is seen, 26 Feb 2006

The first sanctions resolution approved in December required weeks of tough negotiations³, but officials here say agreement is already near on the basics of a follow-on measure that will incrementally⁴ tighten⁵ the sanctions on Tehran.

At a news briefing, State Department Deputy spokesman Tom Casey said senior diplomats⁶ of the permanent council member states - Russia, China, Britain, France and the United States - made good progress on the pending⁷ measure in a telephone conference call Thursday.

Casey said they hope to be able to finalize⁸ agreement on the "elements" of a resolution in another telephone hook-up Saturday, enabling diplomats at the U.N. to begin work on a draft resolution early next week.

The spokesman would not discuss contents of the pending measure, but insisted the United States is not settling for a weak resolution in order to get a quick agreement.

"I think we want a resolution certainly as soon as possible, because I think it is important that the international community show that it is serious about continuing to apply diplomatic pressure on the Iranian regime for its failure to meet its obligations," he said.  "But in terms of the substance, I do think this will be a substantive⁹ resolution."

Iran's refusal to freeze enrichment-related activities prompted the Security Council on December 23 to impose sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

Diplomats have said the follow-on measure could include travel bans on key Iranians, tighter controls of high-technology exports to Iran, and broader curbs¹⁰ on trade credits.

Spokesman Casey said the major powers are pursuing new sanctions with reluctance¹¹, and that a more desirable course is for Iran to halt enrichment and return to talks on its nuclear program.

"What we would have hoped to see was the Iranian government responding to the calls of the international community suspending its uranium-enrichment activities and engaging in negotiations. And even while we are moving forward with this next draft, the offer still remains¹² on the table from the P5-plus-One and certainly Iran has the opportunity to take that up if it wants to meet those conditions," he added.

The permanent Security Council member states and Germany last year offered Iran a wide range of incentives¹³ for dropping elements of its nuclear program believed weapons-related.

Iran insists its program is entirely¹⁴ peaceful but that pursuing enrichment and other aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle is its national right.

1 penalizing   

对…予以惩罚( penalize的现在分词 )； 使处于不利地位

参考例句：

• This is more than just penalizing a company that you are mad at. 她说：这将远远超过惩罚一个你感到不满的公司。

2 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。

3 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。

4 incrementally   

adv.逐渐地

参考例句：

• Incrementally update the shared dimensions used in this cube. 增量更新此多维数据集中使用的共享维度。 来自互联网
• Grand goals are inspiring, but be sure to approach them incrementally. 辉煌的目标令人鼓舞，但一定要逐步实现。 来自互联网

5 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。

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 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

8 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

9 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

10 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

11 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

12 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。

13 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

14 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。