VOA标准英语2009-Gates Says US-Iran Contacts Will Be Open

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates says the United States will keep its allies in the Middle East informed as it pursues the possibility of improved relations with Iran, and discounted concerns in the region about a U.S.-Iran deal that could hurt the interests of longstanding American friends such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Secretary Gates spoke² in Cairo after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
　
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a press conference after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, 05 May 2009

Secretary Gates said there are some "exaggerated concerns" in the region that a so-called "grand bargain" with Iran will be negotiated in secret and then sprung on the region without warning. He called the prospect³ of that "very remote" and "highly unlikely."

"What is important for our friends and partners here in the Middle East to be assured of is that the United States will be very open and transparent⁴ about these contacts, and we will keep our friends informed of what is going on so that nobody gets surprised," he said.

The secretary said any progress toward improving U.S.-Iran relations will not only be open, but will likely develop slowly.

"Frankly⁵, some of the first things that have happened subsequent to his extension of that open arm, open hand, have not been very encouraging, in terms of statements coming out of Tehran," he said. "We're not willing to pull the hand back yet, because we think there's still some opportunity, but I think concerns out here of some kind of a grand bargain are completely unrealistic."

Some analysts⁶ have suggested that the Obama administration move to dramatically change the nature of the U.S.-Iran relationship through a so-called "grand bargain" by, for example, making some concessions⁷ on regional security issues in return for an end to Iran's nuclear program and its interference in Iraq and Afghanistan. Secretary Gates indicated that will not happen.

"The focus of that dialogue is on Iran's behavior and uppermost in our minds is taking the measures necessary, with our partners in the region, to maintain their security and their stability, in particular against Iranian subversive⁸ activities," said Gates.

That is a major theme of Secretary Gates' visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia this week. He says it is important for the United States to try to settle its differences with Iran, as President Obama has offered to do. But the secretary also said senior officials are aware that past efforts have failed, and he said it is not clear whether the view in Tehran has changed. He said "all options are available" if diplomacy⁹ and economic sanctions fail.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 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。

3 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

4 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

5 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

8 subversive   

adj.颠覆性的，破坏性的；n.破坏份子，危险份子

参考例句：

• She was seen as a potentially subversive within the party.她被看成党内潜在的颠覆分子。
• The police is investigating subversive group in the student organization.警方正调查学生组织中的搞颠覆阴谋的集团。

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。