VOA标准英语2009年-Iran's Supreme Leader Throws Cold Water on

By Edward Yeranian
Cairo
03 November 2009

 
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (file photo)
Iran's supreme¹ leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says that Tehran "does not want negotiations² with the West if the "results are pre-determined by the United States." The Ayatollah's remarks follow the government's observance of the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.  

The crowd chanted "death to America" as Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told the group of young people that Tehran "does not want negotiations" with the United States, if the terms of any deal amount to a U.S. diktat.

He says that the United States and its allies tell us to our faces that they are seeking negotiations, but then, when they do not get what they want, they make threats. Is this, he asks, what they call negotiations?

The message came amid an ongoing³ flurry of contradictory⁴ signals by top Iranian officials over Tehran's position on a draft U.N. nuclear accord that would require sending 80 percent of its low-grade uranium abroad for enrichment.

The Ayatollah devoted⁵ long portions of his speech to castigating⁶ the United States, at a gathering⁷ that was billed as a "condemnation⁸ of arrogant⁹ powers." He went on to defend what he called Tehran's "legitimate¹⁰ rights."

He says what Iran wants is nothing more than its legitimate right. Iran, he argues, seeks its independence, freedom, national interests, along with scientific and technological¹¹ progress. He warns that Iran will confront any opponent that challenges those rights with all its might, and bring them down to their knees.

Ayatollah Khamenei's threat to bring Iran's opponents to their knees appeared to be an allusion¹² to the 1979 take-over of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, at the start of the Iranian Revolution. Iran will celebrate the 30th anniversary of that take-over, Wednesday.  

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 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。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 contradictory   

adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立

参考例句：

• The argument is internally contradictory.论据本身自相矛盾。
• What he said was self-contradictory.他讲话前后不符。

5 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

6 castigating   

v.严厉责骂、批评或惩罚（某人）( castigate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Do not overdo your privilege of reproving or castigating me. 不要过分使用责备我的特权；不要对我倚老卖老。 来自互联网
• He is capable of castigating his own country. 他也会痛诋他的祖国。 来自互联网

7 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

8 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

9 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

10 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

11 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

12 allusion   

n.暗示，间接提示

参考例句：

• He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
• She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。