VOA慢速英语2015 核协议将增强伊朗影响力

AS IT IS 2015-04-12 Nuclear Deal Could Lead to Increased Influence for Iran 核协议将增强伊朗影响力

Negotiators are trying to reach an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear activities. The deal would include an easing of international sanctions against Iran. The restrictions¹ were designed to punish Iran for its nuclear activities.

Some observers believe a final agreement would help Iran expand its influence in the Middle East.

Representatives from Iran, the United States and five other countries recently agreed on a plan for future negotiations² on Iran’s nuclear program. Negotiators now hope to reach a final agreement by the end of June.

As the talks move forward, some governments have raised other concerns about Iran, including its support for Houthi rebels in Yemen. They are also concerned about Iran’s assistance in Iraq in the fight against Islamic State militants⁴ and its ties to Hezbollah, the Shi’ite militant³ group based in Lebanon.

One of the most outspoken⁵ critics of a stronger Iran is Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the deal reached in Switzerland this month.

“The deal would greatly bolster⁷ Iran’s economy. It would give Iran thereby⁸ tremendous means to propel its aggression⁹ and terrorism throughout the Middle East.”

But United States officials say a nuclear deal may actually help reduce threats from Iran. Marie Harf is with the State Department.

“One of the reasons we are so committed to seeing if we can prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon is, if you can imagine how much power they're able to project today, they would be able to project ever more power if that was backed up by a nuclear weapon.”

Kelsey Davenport studies efforts to stop the spread of weapons. She says an Iran nuclear deal might lead to more unrest in the Middle East.

“Any agreement that left Iran with a nuclear infrastructure¹⁰ was going to be a bad deal.”

Emanuele Ottolenghi is a Middle East expert at the Foundation for the Defense¹¹ of Democracies. He says people should be worried that the easing of sanctions might empower Iran. He spoke⁶ to VOA on SKYPE.

“It will be a great boost to Iran’s wealth, which the regime has used as a tool to influence regional foreign policy, to fund terrorist movements, to advance its goals, to enhance Iran’s role as a leader in the non-aligned movement. The sky is the limit…”

Emanuele Ottolenghi says several countries would likely feel most threatened by an empowered Iran. One of them is Israel. Another would be Saudi Arabia, which he says competes with Iran.

“There is a, an irreconcilable¹² rivalry¹³ between the two countries and the ruling elites¹⁴ as both aspire¹⁵ to be the beacon¹⁶ and, and guide, and sort of global power in the Islamic world. These two things cannot be reconciled.”

He says the changes should help countries that enjoyed trade relations with Iran before the sanctions were put in place.

Words in This Story

sanction(s) – n. an action taken to force a country to obey international rules or laws; a measure designed to limit or stop trade with that country

outspoken – adj. speaking in an honest, open way about one’s opinions

regime – n. a government or administration

empower(ed) – v. to give power to someone (or something)

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

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 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

4 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

5 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

6 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。

7 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

8 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

9 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

10 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

11 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

12 irreconcilable   

adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的

参考例句：

• These practices are irreconcilable with the law of the Church.这种做法与教规是相悖的。
• These old concepts are irreconcilable with modern life.这些陈旧的观念与现代生活格格不入。

13 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

14 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

15 aspire   

vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于

参考例句：

• Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
• I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。

16 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。