VOA标准英语--伊朗领导人背叛了伊朗人民

Iran's Leaders Betray the Iranian People

Speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a message for the people of Iran who have suffered for almost 40 years under tyranny:

“The United States hears you; the United States supports you; the United States is with you.”

Secretary Pompeo said the fruit of the 1979 Islamic revolution has been bitter for the Iranian people:

“Forty years of kleptocracy. Forty years of the people's wealth squandered¹ on supporting terrorism. Forty years of ordinary Iranians thrown in jail for peaceful expression of their rights.”

Regime leaders, he noted², line their own pockets, while Iranians “cry out for jobs and reform and for opportunity.” He named some of those leaders: head of Iran's judiciary Sadeq Larijani, worth at least $300 million dollars; former IRGC officer and Minister of Interior Sadeq Mahsouli, nicknamed the “Billionaire General;” Grand Ayatollah Makaram Shirazi, known as the “Sultan of Sugar”; Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose personal, off-the-books hedge fund is worth $95 billion.

On foreign policy, Secretary Pompeo said, the regime's mission of exporting the revolution has produced a decades-long campaign of ideologically-motivated violence and destabilization abroad, “while the Iranian people shout slogans like “Leave Syria, think about us.”

At home, the “regime's absolute adherence³ to the Islamic Revolution means it cannot endure any ideas that would contradict or undermine it,” said Secretary Pompeo, which is why it so heartlessly represses its own people's fundamental freedoms.

In response to the regime's abuses, Iranians are taking part in the “most enduring and forceful protests since 1979,” Mr. Pompeo declared: “The proud people of Iran are not staying silent...The United States under President Trump⁴ will not stay silent either.” The U.S., he promised, will take decisive steps to cut off the funds the regime uses to enrich itself and support death and destruction.

He noted, however, the United States is “willing to talk with the regime in Iran. But relief from American pressure will come only when we see tangible⁵, demonstrated, and sustained shifts in Tehran's policies.”

Ultimately, said Secretary Pompeo, “it is up to the Iranian people to determine the direction of their country;” it is America's fervent⁶ hope that “the next 40 years of Iran's history will not be marked by repression⁷ and fear – but with freedom and fulfillment for the Iranian people.”

1 squandered   

v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He squandered all his money on gambling. 他把自己所有的钱都糟蹋在赌博上了。
• She felt as indignant as if her own money had been squandered. 她心里十分生气，好像是她自己的钱给浪费掉了似的。 来自飘（部分）

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 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。

6 fervent   

adj.热的，热烈的，热情的

参考例句：

• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。
• Austria was among the most fervent supporters of adolf hitler.奥地利是阿道夫希特勒最狂热的支持者之一。

7 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。