VOA标准英语2015--Global Chatter Continues on Iran Nuclear Accord

Global Chatter¹ Continues on Iran Nuclear Accord

WASHINGTON—

Thursday’s landmark² political accord on Iran’s nuclear program remains³ a focal point of commentary around the world.  Debate on the preliminary deal will likely consume Washington when Congress reconvenes next week.

In Easter Sunday prayers, Pope Francis highlighted the accord reached in Switzerland.

“With hope we entrust⁴ to the merciful Lord the framework recently agreed in Lausanne, that it may be a definitive⁵ step toward a more secure and fraternal world.”

China’s Foreign Ministry⁶ called the deal “good news for the world.”  By contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains a fierce critic of the agreement.

“This is a bad deal," said Netanyahu. "It leaves Iran with a vast nuclear infrastructure⁷.  I think, for the preeminent⁸ terrorist state of our time to have a free path, an easy path to nuclear weapons endangers Israel, endangers the region, endangers the world.”

While the accord mandates⁹ sanctions relief in return for restrictions¹⁰ on Iran’s atomic capabilities¹¹, it does not mean a surrender of U.S. and international leverage¹² over Iran, according to President Barack Obama.

“Many key details will need to be finalized¹³ over the next three months, and nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed," said Obama. "And if there is backsliding, there will be no deal.  If Iran violates the deal, sanctions can be snapped back in place.  Meanwhile, other American sanctions on Iran for its support of terrorism, its human rights abuses, its ballistic missile program, all will continue to be enforced.”

While pledging to abide¹⁴ by promises made, Iranian officials make clear they expect a full and permanent end to sanctions that have battered¹⁵ their nation’s economy for years.  But terminating, as opposed to suspending, some U.S.-imposed measures would require an act of Congress, and many in the Republican-led body remain skeptical¹⁶, or even hostile, to the framework accord, meaning that the White House has work to do.

“Here in the United States, I expect robust¹⁷ debate," said Obama. "We will keep Congress and the American people fully¹⁸ briefed on the substance of the deal.  As president and commander-in-chief, I firmly believe that the diplomatic option - comprehensive, long-term deal like this - is by far the best option.”

Polls show most Americans open to a negotiated settlement on Iran’s nuclear program, and many lawmakers are in their home districts meeting with constituents¹⁹.  Whatever messages members of Congress hear from the public could shape debate on Capitol Hill when the legislature gets back to work next week. 

1 chatter   

vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战

参考例句：

• Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
• I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。

2 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

3 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。

4 entrust   

v.信赖，信托，交托

参考例句：

• I couldn't entrust my children to strangers.我不能把孩子交给陌生人照看。
• They can be entrusted to solve major national problems.可以委托他们解决重大国家问题。

5 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

6 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。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 preeminent   

adj.卓越的，杰出的

参考例句：

• Washington was recognized as the preeminent spokesman of American Negroes by 1895. 到1895年,华盛顿被公认为美国黑人的卓越代言人。
• He is preeminent because his articles are well written. 他的文章写得很漂亮,卓尔不群。

9 mandates   

托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Individual mandates would require all people to purchase health insurance. 个人托管要求所有人都要购买健康保险。
• While I agree with those benefits, I'm not a supporter of mandates. 我同意上述好处，我不是授权软件的支持者。

10 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

11 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

12 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

13 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 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。

15 battered   

adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损

参考例句：

• He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
• The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。

16 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

17 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

18 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。

19 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》