VOA标准英语2014--国际原子能机构称伊朗浓缩铀浓度低

 

IAEA: Iran Turns its Enriched Uranium Into Less Harmful Form 国际原子能机构称伊朗浓缩铀浓度低

LONDON —

Iran has converted its stockpiles of enriched uranium into a less dangerous format¹ that is more difficult to use for nuclear weapons, according to the United Nations’ Atomic Energy Agency.  The move complies with an interim² deal reached with Western powers on Iran's nuclear program last year, in exchange for easing of sanctions.  

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has converted its stockpiles of 20 percent enriched uranium into less dangerous forms.  The enriched fuel could be used to make nuclear weapons.

Tehran denies that it is trying to make bombs, and insists the program is for civilian³ use.

Iran and Western powers agreed Saturday to extend until November a deadline on reaching a long-term agreement on the future of the nuclear program.

But that remains⁴ a long way off, says International Institute for Strategic Studies analyst⁵ Mark Fitzpatrick.

“They were able to agree to cap the sanctions, to cap the enrichment program, but Iran would not agree to roll it back, to make any reductions.  And that was the sticking point," said  Fitzpatrick.

Speaking Saturday after the two sides agreed to extend the deadline, EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton admitted there is much work ahead.

“While we have made tangible⁶ progress on some of the issues and have worked together on a text for a Joint⁷ Comprehensive Plan of Action, there are still significant gaps on some core issues, which will require more time and effort," said Ashton.

Ashton is due to step down from her EU role before the end of the year - potentially complicating⁸ future negotiations⁹.  Mark Fitzpatrick is skeptical¹⁰ that any deal can be reached in the next four months.

“But in the meantime, Iran’s program is capped.  They are not going to get any closer to being able to develop a weapon.  And of course they say that is not their purpose anyway.  So diplomacy¹¹ has been working, the program has been capped.  We do not have a solution; we are not likely to have a solution.  In four months, maybe we have to reassess and cap and extend it again," he said.

In return for Iran converting its stockpiles of 20 percent enriched uranium, the United States will unfreeze $2.8 billion of Iranian assets.  But sanctions against Iran remain in place.  

For now the commitment to negotiations is being welcomed on both sides, says Iran sanctions and trade expert Nigel Kushner of W Legal.

“I have got a number of clients who are desperate to jump back into the very profitable business relationships they had hitherto in Iran," said Kushner. "And my message to them today is, ‘You can not re-conduct business.  But certainly by all means get on with your marketing¹².  Fly over, conduct meetings; discuss deals you might be able to do - in a legitimate¹³ manner of course - once the sanctions are lifted.’”

Western powers and Iran have yet to decide when and where the next rounds of talks will take place - saying only they would happen in the coming weeks.   

1 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 complicating   

使复杂化( complicate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• High spiking fever with chills is suggestive of a complicating pylephlebitis. 伴有寒战的高热，暗示合并门静脉炎。
• In America these actions become executive puberty rites, complicating relationships that are already complicated enough. 在美国，这些行动成了行政青春期的惯例，使本来已经够复杂的关系变得更复杂了。

9 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。

10 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

11 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。

12 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

13 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。