2006年VOA标准英语-US Sees Changed Atmosphere on Iran Nuclear

By David Gollust
State Department
21 April 2006

The Bush administration said Friday it sees a changed atmosphere with regard to possible international action against Iran, following Tehran's claims in recent days of advances in its nuclear program. The United States is urging countries to halt sales of arms and advanced technology to Iran to slow its drive for nuclear weapons.

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U.S. officials concede there was no tactical agreement on how to curb¹ Iran's nuclear ambitions during this week's talks in Moscow, involving senior diplomats² of the five permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and the G-8 industrial powers.

However, they say there is now an international consensus³ that punitive⁴ action must be taken, following Iran's revelations since last week that it has made strides in uranium enrichment, including harnessing a cascade⁵ of 164 centrifuges that could lead to enrichment on an industrial scale.

At a news briefing, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, the lead U.S. delegate in Moscow, said he was struck by what he said was a changed atmosphere and a new sense of urgency about Iran among the veto-wielding Security Council members, including Russia and China, following Tehran's nuclear claims:

"I can't predict where the Security Council will be a month from today," said Mr. Burns.  "But my sense is that the Iranians have miscalculated again. And its high-profile announcement last week with the President of Iran, and holding up, you know, the product of what they've done in the enrichment process has backfired on them. I sensed real concern on the part of Russia and China, as to what the Iranians are up to. Now, let's see if we can translate that into effective action at the Security Council, to preserve the credibility of the Security Council, which is what is at stake here."

Burns, the State Department's third ranking official, said he would meet again with other ranking officials from the permanent Security Council countries and Germany in Paris May 2 to try to reach agreement on specific diplomatic steps against Iran.

In the meantime, he said, concerned countries should stop selling Iran advanced weapons and so-called dual-use high technology equipment that could help its nuclear program. In particular, he urged Russia to cancel its planned sale to Iran of Tor anti-aircraft missiles, despite Moscow's insistence⁶ Thursday that the sale would proceed.

"It just doesn't stand to reason that Russia would continue with arms sales, particularly of the type envisioned, Tor missiles, to Iran," he added.  "Iran is a country that is violating every international agreement that it's made on the nuclear issue, both with the IAEA, and now with the Security Council. It's not complying with the statements of the Security Council. We know what it's doing, in terms of its, now, more-aggressive policy in its own region. So, we'll continue to work at it."

Burns said he expected an effort in the Security Council next month to pass a binding⁷ resolution under Chapter Seven of the U.N. Charter demanding that Iran cease uranium enrichment and return to negotiations⁸ over its nuclear program.

He said, even if efforts for a binding resolution and sanctions in the Security Council fail, countries could individually and in groups impose penalties against Iran, citing the European Union's readiness to invoke⁹ travel and other targeted sanctions against the Tehran leadership.

Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. But Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph, who joined Burns at the press event, said Tehran is driving toward a nuclear weapons capability¹⁰ with, in his words, both feet on the accelerator:

"This is likely the greatest strategic threat that we face as a nation, that faces the international community," said Mr. Joseph.  "A nuclear armed Iran is something that we simply cannot tolerate. This is a sense that is shared very widely by most states.  A nuclear armed Iran would represent, I think, a direct threat, not only to us, and not only to countries in the region, but to the entire nuclear non-proliferation regime."

Undersecretary Joseph, who discussed the Iranian issue in a tour of Gulf¹¹ states last week, said a nuclear-armed Iran would among other things be emboldened¹² to take more aggressive actions in support of terrorism.

He said, every tool the United States has at its disposal -- diplomatic, economic, intelligence and others -- needs to be brought to bear against that threat.

1 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。

2 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》

3 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

4 punitive   

adj.惩罚的，刑罚的

参考例句：

• They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。
• The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。

5 cascade   

n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下

参考例句：

• She watched the magnificent waterfall cascade down the mountainside.她看着壮观的瀑布从山坡上倾泻而下。
• Her hair fell over her shoulders in a cascade of curls.她的卷发像瀑布一样垂在肩上。

6 insistence   

n.坚持；强调；坚决主张

参考例句：

• They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
• His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

7 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

8 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。

9 invoke   

v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求

参考例句：

• Let us invoke the blessings of peace.让我们祈求和平之福。
• I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永远不会使用这个条款向你们索赔。

10 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

11 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。

12 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》