VOA标准英语2008年-US Confirms Offer to Iran on Nuclear Pre-Negoti

The State Department confirms that Iran could enter negotiations¹ on its nuclear program without initially² meeting the demand of the United States and other major powers that it suspend its uranium enrichment program. U.S. officials say they are amenable³ to a so-called pre-negotiation in which Iran would only be required to stop adding to its enrichment capacity. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

The offer of a so-called pre-negotiation period had been reported in recent days in news accounts quoting various diplomatic sources, but the comments by State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack were the most specific on the subject to date.

The United States, along with the four other permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany, have offered Iran a variety of incentives⁵ including aid for its civil nuclear program if it halts a uranium-enrichment drive that U.S. and other officials believe is weapons related.
　
Javier Solana in Tehran in June, 2008

European Union chief diplomat⁴ Javier Solana and a delegation⁶ of diplomats⁷ from the P-5 plus-1 group presented Iran in mid-June with what is described as a refreshed incentives proposal, to which Iran has yet to give a final reply.

In a talk with reporters, State Department Spokesman McCormack confirmed that the big-power proposal also includes the offer of a pre-negotiation period, lasting⁸ six weeks, in which Iran would add no more centrifuges to its enrichment effort though existing ones could stay in operation.

During that period, Iran would begin nuclear talks with members of the P-5 plus 1, excluding the United States, on the benefits package.

The United States, which has not had diplomatic relations with Iran in nearly three-decades, would join the talks at the end of the pre-negotiation period provided, by that time, Iran has suspended its enrichment program.

If Iran suspended the enrichment program, the major powers would suspend enactment⁹ of U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran.

In his comments, McCormack defended the pre-negotiation offer amid suggestions by some critics that it is too generous an offer to Tehran:

"It still holds that in order to realize full-blown negotiations with the United States at the table at the level of Secretary of State, they need to suspend - suspension for suspension. We think that this is an eminently-reasonable offer and should the Iranians accept the offer, we think that at the end of what would be less than two months, you could get to the desired goal: suspension for suspension and the beginning of a negotiations, potentially on a whole host of issues," he said.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said repeatedly that if Iran suspended uranium enrichment, she would be prepared to directly engage her Iranian counterpart in any venue¹⁰ on any issue the Iranians would want to raise.

Iran is expected to deliver its answer to the refreshed incentives offer soon, probably in a Tehran meeting between the European Union's Solana and Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.

Though public Iranian comments about the offer have been largely negative, officials here say there have also been remarks that suggest a debate within the Iranian leadership about whether to accept.

McCormack said turning down the incentives offer would mean increased political isolation¹¹ and tighter economic curbs¹² on Iran, noting this week's decision by the French energy firm Total to halt plans for a major investment in Iranian oil fields.

The U.S. spokesman also said the Bush administration sees no need to send its key envoy¹³ on the nuclear issue, Undersecretary of State William Burns, to Tehran with Mr. Solana on his expected mission. He said the U.S. commitment and good faith with regard to the incentives offer is already clear.

 

1 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。

2 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

3 amenable   

adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的

参考例句：

• His scientific discoveries are amenable to the laws of physics.他在科学上的发现经得起物理定律的检验。
• He is amenable to counsel.他这人听劝。

4 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。

5 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

6 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。

7 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》

8 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

9 enactment   

n.演出，担任…角色；制订，通过

参考例句：

• Enactment refers to action.演出指行为的表演。
• We support the call for the enactment of a Bill of Rights.我们支持要求通过《权利法案》的呼声。

10 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

11 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

12 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

13 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。