VOA标准英语2010年-US Tightens Iran Sanctions, Says Tehra

The Obama administration on Tuesday announced new sanctions against an array of Iranian-controlled companies, entities¹ and individuals said to be helping² Tehran evade³ nuclear sanctions or promote terrorism.  The State Department said there are signs the Tehran government is feeling the pressure.

 

Officials here are attributing Iran's apparent renewed interest in nuclear talks to the growing network of sanctions against Tehran, which the Obama administration further tightened⁴ in two new actions.

The Treasury⁵ Department said it is barring all U.S. economic dealings with 21 banks, insurance firms and other businesses in six countries that it says are Iranian-controlled, and are being used to evade nuclear sanctions.

In a separate move, the department said it is blacklisting several senior Iranian officials and entities for allegedly supporting Hezbollah, the Taliban and other groups designated by the United States as terrorist organizations.

The Treasury actions appear aimed at continuing the momentum⁷ of pressure on Iran that began with new U.N. Security Council nuclear sanctions approved on June 9, and were reinforced by additional economic curbs⁸ by the United States and European Union.

Iran has since been in contact with European Union chief diplomat⁹ Catherine Ashton about renewing a nuclear dialogue with world powers that began in Geneva last October.

At a news briefing, State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley said the cumulative¹⁰ effect of the latest measures is making it increasingly difficult to do business in Iran.

"We sense that there may well be a willingness on the part of Iran to enter into the kind of dialogue that we have long sought," he said.  "So we think that the steps that have been taken, both at the United Nations and now follow-on steps by the United States and by the European Union and other countries, are getting Iran's attention."

Crowley said the United States would welcome a new meeting between Iran and the five permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany - the P-5+1.  Last year, the six powers proposed that Iran export much of its low-enriched uranium stockpile in return for fuel for a medical research reactor¹¹.

The United States sees the Tehran reactor offer as a confidence-building measure toward broader talks on the future of an Iranian nuclear program that U.S. officials say is weapons-related - a charge Iranian leaders deny.

Tuesday's new U.S. nuclear sanctions target alleged⁶ Iranian front companies in Belarus, Germany, Italy, Japan and Luxembourg, as well as Iran.

The anti-terrorism sanctions apply to four senior leaders of the elite¹² Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps¹³.

The Treasury Department also names two Iranian entities, ostensibly operating as relief and reconstruction¹⁴ groups in Lebanon, but which are said to be providing financial and material support to Hezbollah. 
 

1 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 evade   

vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避

参考例句：

• He tried to evade the embarrassing question.他企图回避这令人难堪的问题。
• You are in charge of the job.How could you evade the issue?你是负责人，你怎么能对这个问题不置可否？

4 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

5 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

6 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

7 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

8 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

9 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

10 cumulative   

adj.累积的，渐增的

参考例句：

• This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
• The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。

11 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

12 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

13 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

14 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。