奥巴马称伊朗核协议乃2015年十大成就之一

Obama: Iran Nuclear Deal Top Ten Achievement of 2015 奥巴马称伊朗核协议乃2015年十大成就之一

LONDON—

The nuclear deal struck between Iran and six world powers in July ended decades of negotiations¹ and setbacks, and has been hailed by U.S. President Barack Obama as one of the major achievements of the year.

The deal stipulates² U.S. and European sanctions against Iran will be lifted in return for a reduction of Tehran's nuclear facilities, to prevent it from developing atomic weapons.

In his latest assessment³ this month, Yukiya Amano, the head of the U.N nuclear watchdog agency the IAEA, said Iran is on track.

"If your question is that Iran is planning to complete their preparatory activities in two, three weeks' time, I do not have a reason to doubt it," Amano said.

That could lead to Western sanctions being lifted in early 2016. Obama cites the nuclear deal as one of his ten reasons to be optimistic heading into the new year.

"We succeeded in forging a strong deal to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” he said. “In fact, Iran has already dismantled⁴ thousands of centrifuges that enrich uranium."

Iran’s new role

The agreement has transformed Iran's position on the world stage, says Mehrdad Khonsari of the Iranian Organization for Economic Reconstruction⁵ and National Reconciliation⁶.

"It has ended Iran's isolation,” Khonsari said. “It has created a forum⁷ whereby Iran can reintegrate itself into the international community."

That reintegration is shifting the regional power balance between Shia-led Iran and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia, who are backing different sides in civil conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

With the West now engaged in fighting Sunni extremists like the Islamic State, Iran is seen as less of a security threat, Khonsari says.

"I think that recognition has come in the aftermath of this nuclear agreement,” he said, “coupled with the fact that when you look at the economy, and economic issues, you see that Iran is today, also, because of its population and resources, it is the world's, you might say, foreign investment market."

The most valuable of those resources — oil — is now up for grabs. The country announced this month that it is seeking $25 billion in investments from foreign companies in a large number of new contracts.

If sanctions are lifted early next year, the oil — and the money — will start flowing.

1 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。

2 stipulates   

n.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的名词复数 )；规定，明确要求v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的第三人称单数 )；规定，明确要求

参考例句：

• The trade contract stipulates for the settlement of balances in RMB. 贸易合同规定余额以人民币结算。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The contract stipulates for the use of seasoned timber. 合同上订明用干透的木料。 来自辞典例句

3 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

4 dismantled   

拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消

参考例句：

• The plant was dismantled of all its equipment and furniture. 这家工厂的设备和家具全被拆除了。
• The Japanese empire was quickly dismantled. 日本帝国很快被打垮了。

5 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。

6 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

7 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。