VOA标准英语2010年-British Man Accused of Conspiring to S

A British man has appeared in court in London Thursday, accused of conspiring¹ to sell missile parts to Iran in breach² of international sanctions. Wealthy golf club president Christopher Tappin denies the charge, and is fighting an extradition³ request from the United States, where he could face a 35-year prison sentence if found guilty. The case has highlighted the tightening⁴ of sanctions against Tehran – and the problems that foreign businesses face in trying to do business in Iran.

Christopher Tappin is accused by U.S. authorities of conspiring to sell weapons parts to Iran in breach of international sanctions. But he emerged from the hearing punching the air, and is confident that the extradition request will be denied.

"We're relying on the British justice system to do its work, and it seems to be going in my favor," Tappin said. "We are very against the way that the U.S. is conducting itself in prosecuting⁵ this case, and the clear indication is that things are moving in our direction."

He denies involvement

Tappin denies he attempted to sell batteries for surface-to-air missiles, which were allegedly to be shipped from the U.S. to Tehran. The court papers showed that American clients Tappin was dealing⁶ with were, in fact, undercover U.S. Customs Enforcement agents.

In July of this year, U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill enacting⁷ additional sanctions against Iran regarding the export of petroleum⁸ products, together with measures preventing banks from providing services to Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

"I'm pleased to sign into law the toughest sanctions against Iran ever passed by the United States Congress," Mr. Obama said.

UN sanctions

The United Nations also adopted sanctions targeting Iran's armed forces and nuclear-related industries. It's these laws that Christopher Tappin is accused of breaking.

The U.S. government says the sanctions are a vital tool in trying to curtail⁹ Iran's nuclear ambitions. The United States and others in the international community accuse Iran of seeking to build a nuclear weapon. Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes only.

Nigel Kushner of the London law firm Whale Rock advises clients who want to do business in Iran on how to comply with the sanctions. He says the regulations are hugely complex.

"There are so many different layers of sanctions, which means that companies are often in the dark and don't even realize that what they're doing is wrong," said Kushner . "The U.S. authorities came out with some far-reaching sanctions, which have an effect on non-U.S. persons, so what they're saying to the rest of the world is, 'You want to do business with Iran? Then you won't be doing business in the U.S.'"

Rights group expresses solidarity¹⁰

Outside the courthouse in London, the human rights group "Liberty" organized a protest in support of Tappin. The group's director of policy, Isabella Sankey, says the extradition agreements between the U.S. and the United Kingdom are being misused¹¹.

"Cases like this definitely highlight how blanket rules that were brought in post-9/11, supposedly to deal with terror suspects and allow them to be transferred easily between the U.S. and the U.K., are actually so broad and lack so many fundamental safeguards that many of these smaller allegations and cases are being swept up along with what this law was originally intended to deal with," said Sankey.

Tappin will be back in court in November to continue his fight against extradition to the U.S.

American authorities say they will continue to pursue anyone they believe is breaking the sanctions against Iran.
 

1 conspiring   

密谋( conspire的现在分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致

参考例句：

• They were accused of conspiring against the king. 他们被指控阴谋反对国王。
• John Brown and his associates were tried for conspiring to overthrow the slave states. 约翰·布朗和他的合伙者们由于密谋推翻实行奴隶制度的美国各州而被审讯。

2 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

3 extradition   

n.引渡（逃犯）

参考例句：

• The smuggler is in prison tonight,awaiting extradition to Britain.这名走私犯今晚在监狱，等待引渡到英国。
• He began to trouble concerning the extradition laws.他开始费尽心思地去想关于引渡法的问题。

4 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

5 prosecuting   

检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师

参考例句：

• The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
• Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 enacting   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Generally these statutes apply only to wastes from reactors outside the enacting state. 总之，这些法令只适宜用在对付那些来自外州的核废料。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• In addition, the complexion of enacting standards for live working is described. 另外，介绍了带电作业标准的制订情况。

8 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。

9 curtail   

vt.截短，缩短；削减

参考例句：

• The government hopes to curtail public spending.政府希望缩减公共事业开支。
• The minister had to curtail his visit.部长不得不缩短访问日期。

10 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

11 misused   

v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》