2006年VOA标准英语-US Plays Down Iranian Warnings on Oil Supp

By Michael Bowman
Washington
04 June 2006

The Bush administration is downplaying Iranian suggestions that any attempt by the United States to punish the Islamic republic for its nuclear activities would endanger oil shipments from the Middle East.

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Iranian supreme¹ leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a speech on the 17th anniversary of death of the late revolutionary founder² Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran, June 4, 2006  
  

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, spoke³ at a public ceremony Sunday. Although President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and parliament members were in attendance, much of the message was aimed at Washington.

The ayatollah said any "wrong move" against Iran would jeopardize⁴ energy shipments from the region. He added that those who threaten Iran's interests will face, as he put it, "the sharpness" of the nation's anger.

Speaking on the U.S. television Fox News Sunday program, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice downplayed the possibility of a cut-off of Iranian oil.

"We should not place too much emphasis on a threat of this kind," said Condoleezza Rice. "After all, Iran is also very dependent on oil revenue. I think, something like 80 percent of Iran's budget comes from oil revenue."

President Bush has not ruled out the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran should diplomacy⁵ fail to prevent the Islamic republic from developing a capacity to build nuclear weapons.

But the Bush administration says it is focusing on a diplomatic path, and, last week, held out the possibility of direct U.S. participation⁶ in talks with Iran over its nuclear program, if Iran suspends uranium enrichment.

Iranian officials have cautiously welcomed the prospect⁷ of direct dealings with the United States, but say they have no intention of suspending uranium enrichment and reject any pre-conditions for talks.
 

Condoleezza Rice  
  
Secretary Rice says it is the international community that is demanding Iran suspend enrichment activities, not just the United States.

"We understand that it may take a little time for Iran to assess the situation," she said. "In a short time, they will be presented with the actual proposals that the EU-3 and others have been considering. I would note that the conditions that we outline are not American conditions. They are conditions of the IAEA Board of Governors, conditions of the U.N. Security Council presidential statement, and, indeed, a condition that was set by the Europeans [Britain, France and Germany] when the negotiations⁸ broke down."

Specific details of the proposal, worked out at talks in Vienna last week by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, have not been released. But the plan is believed to contain economic and technological⁹ incentives¹⁰ for Iran to limit its nuclear activities, as well as the threat of U.N. sanctions should Tehran refuse to cooperate.

Secretary Rice says Iran will be given time to consider the proposal, but that time will be limited.

"We will not allow Iran to drag this out," noted¹¹ Condoleezza Rice. "This really has to be settled, not in a matter of months. We have made very clear, and will make very clear that the international community is not prepared to wait, while Iran continues down this path."

Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is purely peaceful - to provide energy for a growing population

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

3 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。

4 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

5 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。

6 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

7 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

8 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。

9 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

10 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

11 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。