2006年VOA标准英语-Iran Refuses to Share Its Nuclear Plans wi

By Ernest Leong and Amy Katz
Washington, D.C.
06 January 2006
 
Iran Pursues Nukes

In Vienna, Austria, Iran has reneged on its pledge to provide the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA, with details on its uranium enrichment plans.  Earlier, Iran said it would resume nuclear fuel research on January 9th.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, says Tehran representatives did not attend discussions on Iran's nuclear program, as promised.  IAEA head Mohamed El Baradei said he was "still seeking clarification" on what Iran would do January 9th, the date Iran says it will resume work on its nuclear enrichment program.

 

Ali Larijani  
  

In an interview with American network ABC News, Ali Larijani, Iran's chief negotiator for nuclear issues, said Iran has a right to enrich uranium -- which is key to the development of a nuclear weapon. "We should accept and let any nation with the technical and scientific technology to move ahead with it,” he said.  “We should absolutely allow it to do so."

 

 
Sean McCormack
  

The U.S. and the European Union remain concerned Iran's nuclear program is meant to develop nuclear weapons.  U.S. State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said, "If Iran resumes enrichment-related activities, the international community will have to take additional measures to constrain¹ Iran's nuclear ambitions."

 

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  
  

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad questions the Western powers' authority to curb² Iran's nuclear ambitions, which he says are peaceful. "They [U.S. and EU] say the Iranian nation hasn't the right to use peaceful nuclear technology.  What is your basis for making such claims and according to which law?"

Meanwhile, a report in the British newspaper, The Guardian³, says an intelligence document reveals Iran has been searching throughout Europe and former Soviet⁴ Republics to obtain the technology and expertise⁵ needed to build a nuclear weapon. 

According to the Guardian, the document may have been leaked in response to growing frustration⁶ among Western powers over Iran's refusal to give up its program to produce fuel for its Bushehr nuclear power plant.

IAEA  
  
Iran resumed work converting raw uranium into gas in August.  Its recent announcement is seen by some as an effort to raise the stakes ahead of a meeting with European powers scheduled for January 18th.

The U.S., which has no official relations with Iran, is supporting Europe's diplomatic efforts while raising the possibility of seeking UN sanctions against Tehran.

1 constrain   

vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制

参考例句：

• She tried to constrain herself from a cough in class.上课时她竭力忍住不咳嗽。
• The study will examine the factors which constrain local economic growth.这项研究将考查抑制当地经济发展的因素。

2 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

3 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

4 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

5 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

6 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。