VOA标准英语2015--克里访问在纽约的伊朗外交官邸

Kerry Visits Iranian NY Diplomatic Residence 克里访问在纽约的伊朗外交官邸

In a sign of how much U.S.-Iranian relations have thawed¹ as negotiations² over Iran’s nuclear file progress, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Iran’s Foreign Minister Javid Zarif Monday for about an hour at the New York residence of Tehran’s U.N. ambassador.  

Kerry arrived at the New York City townhouse, which under diplomatic protocol³ is considered Iranian territory. He was greeted by Iranian officials and led inside. Zarif arrived a few minutes after Kerry. Neither Kerry nor Zarif spoke⁴ to reporters after the private talks in New York.

The U.S. and Iran broke diplomatic relations in 1979, and the two nations only recently have begun engaging over Tehran’s nuclear program.  

A framework agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program was reached April 2 in Lausanne, Switzerland between the six major powers (the United States, Britain, China France, Russia and Germany) and Iran. The parties hope to reach a final deal by June 30.

The two diplomats⁵ are in New York for the annual review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In his address to the U.N. meeting, Kerry was upbeat about the progress of the Iranian nuclear talks.

"I want you to know that the hard work is far from over and some key issues remain unresolved, but we are in fact closer than ever to the good, comprehensive deal that we have been seeking," he said. "If we can get there, the entire world will be safer.”

Speaking on behalf of the 120 nations that form the Non-Aligned Movement, and which Iran currently chairs, Zarif said states have an inalienable right to develop nuclear fuel.

“Accordingly, the choices and decisions of each State party in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be fully⁶ respected,” he said.

Before the meeting, Kerry told reporters he also will raise the conflict in Yemen with Zarif.

The U.S. and several Arab Gulf⁷ States accuse Tehran of sending arms and other support to Shi'ite Houthi rebels, who are trying to seize control of the country from the government of President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi.

Senate debate continues on deal review

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is due to continue debating Tuesday a bill that would give Congress the chance to review any potential nuclear deal struck between Iran and the group of six world powers.

The measure must pass a Senate vote, then another in the House of Representatives before going to President Barack Obama, who has signaled he would sign it.

Lawmakers want to examine the text of a nuclear deal to ensure it would keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons and for Secretary of State John Kerry to provide a report on how the U.S. and the U.N.'s nuclear agency would verify Iran is complying.

The bill also calls for Obama to report to Congress every six months on Iran's nuclear program. It does not require Congress to formally approve an agreement through a vote.

Iran and the group that includes the U.S., Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany have set a June 30 deadline for finalizing⁸ a deal after agreeing to a framework earlier this month.

In exchange for curtailing⁹ its nuclear activity, Iran would get relief from sanctions that have hurt its economy. Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is peaceful with a focus on uses such as power generation and medical research, not trying to build bombs.

1 thawed   

解冻

参考例句：

• The little girl's smile thawed the angry old man. 小姑娘的微笑使发怒的老头缓和下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He thawed after sitting at a fire for a while. 在火堆旁坐了一会儿，他觉得暖和起来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

7 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

8 finalizing   

vt.完成（finalize的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
• Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫，完美在此定格。 来自互联网

9 curtailing   

v.截断，缩短( curtail的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They will be curtailing the discussions at two thirty. 他们将把讨论缩短至两点半。 来自互联网
• Individually, banks are acting rationally by retaining their capital and curtailing lending. 此外，银行们正在合理地保留其资本和减少贷款。 来自互联网