2006年VOA标准英语-US Urges Security Council to Sanction Iran

By Meredith Buel
Washington
02 November 2006

The United States is urging the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran immediately for its refusal to halt its uranium enrichment program. Some Middle East analysts² say even with the threat of sanctions, Tehran is unlikely to suspend the program. Analysts argue, however, that diplomacy³ is a better approach to the situation than using military force.

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U.N. Security Council 
  
Consultations⁴ are under way at the U.N. Security Council on a draft sanctions resolution proposed by Britain, France and Germany.

The United States and the European powers favor action to punish Tehran for failing to comply with the Council's demand to halt uranium enrichment.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is urging Council members to impose sanctions immediately.

Condoleezza Rice    
  
"The United Nations Security Council is now working on an Iran sanctions resolution," she said. "For the international community to be credible⁵, it must pass a resolution now that holds Iran accountable for its defiance⁶."

Some Middle East analysts say Iran is not likely to halt its nuclear program, even if sanctions are imposed.

Kenneth Pollack, a specialist on Iran with the Washington-based Brookings Institution, spoke⁷ recently at an event sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations.

"Even the word suspension is an anathema⁸ in Tehran and it does seem very unlikely that we are going to get an Iranian agreement to suspend," he said. "I think that is very unlikely at any point in the near future for the Iranians."

Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, has just published a book called Hidden Iran: Paradox⁹ and Power in the Islamic Republic.

Takeyh says the Iranian government, which has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is using a civilian¹⁰ construction program to develop nuclear weapons.

"I think there are certain determinations that have been made by the regime," he said. "Namely that the country will proceed with its nuclear program up to the uppermost limits of what the NPT can allow, which is essentially¹¹ creating a very elaborate nuclear infrastructure¹² that can give them a weapons capability¹³ when and if they should want to move to that capability."

Reports from Iran say the country has recently doubled its capacity to enrich uranium.

 
George W. Bush 
  
That prompted President Bush to call for increased international pressure on Tehran.

"Whether they've doubled it or not, the idea of Iran having a nuclear weapon is unacceptable," he said. "It is unacceptable to the United States and it is unacceptable to the nations we are working with at the United Nations to send a common message."

Iran says its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes, to provide fuel for nuclear power. The United States alleges¹⁴ Iran is using the technology to create a weapons program.

Middle East analyst¹ Kenneth Pollack says some officials within the Bush administration are pushing for the use of military force against Iran if it does not comply with U.N. demands to stop enriching uranium.

Pollack says, however, key U.S. leaders believe diplomacy is the best alternative.

"There certainly are people who are pushing for a more aggressive policy, for a policy of regime change, for a policy of military strikes," he said. "But they do not seem to be gaining a whole lot of traction¹⁵ because the principals do seem to understand that as difficult as the diplomatic track is to pull off, it actually is the least bad option."

Pollack says the diplomatic option offers some positives for the United States, even if it does not convince the Iranians to give up their nuclear program.

He says using diplomacy does preserve some American influence and enjoys the support of many U.S. allies.

It is not yet clear when or if the permanent members of the Security Council will agree on a resolution imposing¹⁶ sanctions on Iran, although U.S. diplomats¹⁷ have expressed optimism such a document will be approved.

1 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

4 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

6 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

7 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。

8 anathema   

n.诅咒；被诅咒的人(物)，十分讨厌的人(物)

参考例句：

• Independence for the Kurds is anathema to Turkey and Iran.库尔德人的独立对土耳其和伊朗来说将是一场梦魇。
• Her views are ( an ) anathema to me.她的观点真叫我讨厌。

9 paradox   

n.似乎矛盾却正确的说法；自相矛盾的人(物)

参考例句：

• The story contains many levels of paradox.这个故事存在多重悖论。
• The paradox is that Japan does need serious education reform.矛盾的地方是日本确实需要教育改革。

10 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

11 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

12 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。

13 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

14 alleges   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The newspaper article alleges that the mayor is corrupt. 报纸上断言该市长腐败。
• Steven was tardy this morning and alleges that his bus was late. 史提芬今天早上迟到的说词是公车误点了。

15 traction   

n.牵引；附着摩擦力

参考例句：

• I'll show you how the traction is applied.我会让你看如何做这种牵引。
• She's injured her back and is in traction for a month.她背部受伤，正在作一个月的牵引治疗。

16 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

17 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》