VOA慢速英语2018--美国重新启动对伊朗的限制

US Restarts Restrictions¹ on Iran

The United States is taking action to pressure Iran over its nuclear program and activities across the Middle East.

President Donald Trump² announced economic sanctions against Iran Monday night. The measures went into effect Tuesday.

International restrictions against Iran were lifted as a result of a deal negotiated with world powers in 2015. Under that agreement, Iran promised to limit its nuclear activities for 15 years. In return, other countries offered to lift strong international sanctions, including financial restrictions.

President Trump has strongly criticized the agreement, known as the Joint³ Comprehensive Plan of Action. Shortly after the latest sanctions took effect, he wrote on Twitter, “I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!”

U.S. national security advisor⁴ John Bolton said on Tuesday that the reason for the sanctions was not to cause “regime change.”

Bolton said the goal was to get the Iranian government to negotiate a new deal that limits its nuclear activities and missile program. He also said that Iran must step back from its support for international terrorism.

The new sanctions target Iran’s automobile⁵ industry, the trade in gold and other valuable metals, and Iranian money.

Additional sanctions will go into effect later.

On November 5, the U.S. government will re-establish sanctions against Iran’s energy-related businesses. In addition, the U.S. plans to restrict financial transactions involving the Central Bank of Iran.

The new sanctions increase pressure on Iran, which is dealing⁶ with economic problems, including inflation and unemployment.

Iran has condemned⁷ the move, saying U.S. officials are reneging on an international agreement. Iranian leaders have blamed the U.S. for the country’s economic unrest.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech that the U.S. cannot be trusted because it withdrew from the nuclear deal. He noted⁸ that other countries that signed the agreement still support it.

Rouhani also rejected recent calls by Trump for direct talks between the U.S. and Iran. He said the offer was only meant to cause problems in Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long opposed the 2015 agreement and welcomed the new sanctions. He said, “This is an important moment for Israel, the U.S., the region and the entire world.”

Effects on Iran’s trade

Some Trump administration officials note that critics of the U.S. action say the sanctions will not be effective. The officials, however, said that already is not the case.

One official said that nearly 100 international businesses have announced plans to leave the Iranian market.

However, some U.S. allies in Europe have voiced strong concerns.

The European Union still supports the nuclear agreement with Iran. The EU said it is putting in place a “blocking statute⁹.” It is meant to stop European companies from obeying sanctions unless they have permission to do so. The move also is supposed to block the effect of any U.S. court action in Europe related to the sanctions.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini opposed the U.S. move. So have the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Britain. They released a joint statement in which they said they “deeply regret” the move. The ministers called the Iran deal very important to nuclear arms control efforts around the world and to security everywhere.

In a statement on Monday, Trump noted that the U.S. “is fully¹⁰ committed to enforcing all of our sanctions…” He also warned that, “Individuals or entities¹¹ that fail to wind down activities with Iran risk severe consequences.”

Russia and China also signed the 2015 agreement. Both continue to support it. The United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency has noted in 11 reports that Iran has honored the nuclear agreement.

Trump and other critics of the deal have said it gave Iran billions of dollars, which the government then used to fuel conflicts in Syria and other parts of the Middle East. They also say the deal does little if anything to slow Iran’s nuclear program.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

sanction – n. measure put in place to cause a country to obey international law, usually by limiting or banning trade

regime – n. a form of government

renege – v. to refuse to do something you promised or agreed to do

statute – n. a written law that is formally created by a government

entities – n. something that exists by itself, something that is separate from other things

consequences – n. something that happens as a result of actions or a set of conditions

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 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。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

5 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

8 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。

9 statute   

n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例

参考例句：

• Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute.保障消费者利益已在法令里作了规定。
• The next section will consider this environmental statute in detail.下一部分将详细论述环境法令的问题。

10 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。

11 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。