IAEA Rebukes Iran for Nuclear Activities

 　　The United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency has passed a resolution that cites "deep and increasing concern" about Iran's nuclear activities.

　　The 35-member board of the International Atomic Energy Agency approved the resolution Friday, about a week after the agency said there is "credible¹" evidence that Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons. Only Cuba and Ecuador voted against the resolution, while Indonesia abstained².

　　The United States, Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia crafted the measure, which bows to concerns raised by China and Russia. Both nations sought a milder response to Tehran.

　　The measure stops short of referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council or setting a deadline for the country to comply with the IAEA's requests for additional information.

　　Iran has dismissed the IAEA report and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

　　The Reuters news agency cites the country's IAEA envoy³, Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, as saying the measure will only strengthen Iran's determination to continue its uranium enrichment activities.

　　He also said Iran would not attend a U.N. atomic forum⁴ next week that will focus on efforts to create a Middle East region that is free of nuclear weapons.

　　The U.S. praised the IAEA for passing the resolution. A White House statement says the agency "spoke⁵ with a unified⁶ voice" in holding Tehran accountable for its "continued failure to live up to international obligations."

　　The U.N. Security Council has passed four sets of sanctions on Iran for refusing to stop nuclear activities that have both civilian⁷ and military uses.

1 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

2 abstained   

v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票）

参考例句：

• Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

7 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。