VOA标准英语2010年-Iran Says Ready for September Talks if

Iranian state media said Tuesday Saeed Jalili made the offer in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is representing the six powers. He was replying to an offer made by Ashton in early June to resume talks on the Iranian nuclear program.

In his letter, Jalili says the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China must clarify whether the goal of renewed talks is cooperation or hostility¹ with Iran.

He also says the six powers must make clear whether they support the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and clarify their position on Israel's purported² nuclear arsenal³.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington is willing to meet with Iran if it is "serious" about talking to the six powers. He did not elaborate.

Western nations suspect Iran is trying to build atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared a two-month freeze in nuclear talks with the six powers last week to protest their support for a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Tehran.  The U.N. Security Council approved the latest sanctions on June 9.

U.S. president Barack Obama also signed a law last week imposing⁴ the toughest ever U.S. sanctions on Iran. The law imposes penalties on companies that sell Iran refined petroleum⁵ products like gasoline and jet fuel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the move Tuesday in a meeting with Mr. Obama at the White House, saying the unilateral U.S. sanctions have "teeth." He urged other nations to follow Mr. Obama's example by imposing tougher sanctions on Iran's energy sector⁶.

Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran to be the greatest threat to its existence due to repeated calls by Iranian leaders for the destruction of the Jewish state.

Iran says Israel's purported nuclear arsenal is the main obstacle to a nuclear-free Middle East. Israel neither confirms nor denies possessing nuclear weapons.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

 
 

1 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

2 purported   

adj.传说的，谣传的v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• the scene of the purported crime 传闻中的罪案发生地点
• The film purported to represent the lives of ordinary people. 这部影片声称旨在表现普通人的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

4 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

5 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。