VOA标准英语2012--Tensions Ease Over Iran’s Nuclear Program as Diplomacy Ramps Up

Tensions Ease Over Iran’s Nuclear Program as Diplomacy¹ Ramps² Up

Earlier this year, threats of armed conflict rumbled³ across the Middle East.

Iran launched war games near the Persian Gulf⁴.

Israeli warplanes conducted drills to ready for attack.

And a battle-ready U.S. aircraft carrier cruised off the coast of Iran.

Analysts⁵ say the show on both sides was largely posturing⁶ as the West continued to pursue a tougher sanctions policy against Iran. 

“So if you don’t want to see war you have to comply with this new regime of sanctions, and actually they did to a large extent,” said Mehdi Khalaji of the Washington Institute.

Then the rhetoric⁷ cooled considerably⁸ after a meeting in Istanbul last month when Iranian negotiators appeared more flexible than expected.

“If the talks in Istanbul can be called one step forward, I’m sure, God willing, we will take a few steps forward in Baghdad,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

Iran is calling on the West to lift sanctions that are crippling its economy, but the West is standing⁹ firm.

“We’re going to keep the sanctions in place and the pressure on Iran as they consider what they will bring to the table in Baghdad and we will respond accordingly,” said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Analysts say any Iranian deal must include face-saving measures that allow Tehran to portray¹⁰ the agreement as a victory.

“Because for Iran, its image in the world, or within Muslim nations, is not less important than its nuclear achievements,” Khalaji said.

Analysts point to a growing divide in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threat to attack Iran.

"I have no faith in the prime minister, nor in the defense¹¹ minister. I really don’t have faith in a leadership that makes decisions out of messianic feelings," said Yuval Diskin, the former chief of Israel’s domestic security service.

But Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says such critics ignore the past. “Iranian deception¹² and lies concerning their nuclear program have been on-going and well-documented. Yet parts of the world, including some politically motivated Israeli figures, prefer to bury their heads in the sand,” he said.

U.S. intelligence officials say Iran is keeping open the option to develop nuclear weapons, but has not yet made the decision to build a bomb.

But if Tehran's intentions are peaceful as it claims, then it should prove it, says Mehdi Khalaji.

“Iran should show that it is not looking for a nuclear bomb and it is willing to comply with its international commitments and it is able to build confidence with the international community,” he said.

In the next talks in Baghdad, Western nations are expected to seek compromises on Iran’s enrichment program, and the Iran crisis could heat up again if no significant progress is made. 

1 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

2 ramps   

resources allocation and multiproject scheduling 资源分配和多项目的行程安排

参考例句：

• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。
• He has the upper floor and ramps are fitted everywhere for his convenience. 他住在上面一层，为了他的方便着想，到处设有坡道。

3 rumbled   

发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋）

参考例句：

• The machine rumbled as it started up. 机器轰鸣着发动起来。
• Things rapidly became calm, though beneath the surface the argument rumbled on. 事情迅速平静下来了，然而，在这种平静的表面背后争论如隆隆雷声，持续不断。

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 posturing   

做出某种姿势( posture的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was posturing a model. 她正在摆模特儿的姿势。
• She says the President may just be posturing. 她说总统也许只是在做样子而已。

7 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

8 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

11 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

12 deception   

n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计

参考例句：

• He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
• He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。