VOA常速英语2007年-US Intelligence Says Iran Halted Nuclear Weapon

By Gary Thomas
Washington
03 December 2007

A new U.S. intelligence estimate says it is not clear that Iran is determined¹ to produce nuclear weapons. The estimate says Iran stopped nuclear weapons development four years ago, but adds that Tehran is keeping its options open. VOA Correspondent Gary Thomas reports from Washington.

A new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear capabilities² and intentions says international pressure and scrutiny³ caused Iran to stop work on nuclear weapons in late 2003, and the work had not resumed as of mid-2007.

But the report adds that Iran appears to be keeping open the option of building a nuclear weapon. It says Iran continues to produce enriched uranium. The estimate says, Iran is not likely to have enough weapons-grade highly enriched uranium for a bomb until late 2009 at the earliest.

The key findings of the estimate, which represent the highest collective judgments⁴ of the U.S. intelligence community, were released Monday.

The new assessment⁵ differs sharply in some respects with a 2005 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. In 2005 the intelligence agencies said Iran was determined to develop nuclear weapons. The new estimate says it now appears Iran is less determined to produce nuclear weapons than previously⁶ believed.

Nevertheless, it adds, it would be difficult to persuade Iran's leadership to give up any ambitions to be a nuclear power.

In a written statement, National Security Advisor⁷ Stephen Hadley says the new estimate has some positive news. He said it confirms the Bush administration strategy of keeping up international diplomatic pressure on Iran.

 

Hadley says it underscores that Iran's nuclear ambitions remain a very serious problem.

Senate Majority Leader Harry⁸ Reid, who had asked the White House to produce the latest estimate, says it shows the need for engaging Iran on the nuclear issue.

"We should be having a surge of diplomacy⁹ with Iran," he said. "And based upon this [estimate], I think it would be a pretty good idea."

The United States has been trying to forge a consensus¹⁰ among the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council for new sanctions on Iran for its alleged¹¹ nuclear weapons ambitions.

Iran has insisted that it only seeks to develop nuclear energy for peaceful, non-military use.

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 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

3 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

4 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

5 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

6 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

7 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

8 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

9 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。

10 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？

11 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为