VOA慢速英语2015 核协议将增强伊朗影响力
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2015年VOA慢速英语(四)月
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 restrictions 1 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 negotiations 2 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 militants 4 and its ties to Hezbollah, the Shi’ite militant 3 group based in Lebanon.
One of the most outspoken 5 critics of a stronger Iran is Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the deal reached in Switzerland this month.
“The deal would greatly bolster 7 Iran’s economy. It would give Iran thereby 8 tremendous means to propel its aggression 9 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 infrastructure 10 was going to be a bad deal.”
Emanuele Ottolenghi is a Middle East expert at the Foundation for the Defense 11 of Democracies. He says people should be worried that the easing of sanctions might empower Iran. He spoke 6 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 irreconcilable 12 rivalry 13 between the two countries and the ruling elites 14 as both aspire 15 to be the beacon 16 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)
- 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
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。