2007年VOA标准英语-US Government Holds Hearings on Iran

By Ernest Leong
Washington
07 March 2007

Iran remains¹ a top concern for the United States because of Iran's refusal to restrict its nuclear program. The U.S. also accuses Iran of supporting terrorist groups in the Middle East.  VOA's Ernest Leong reports.

Nicholas Burns

The House Foreign Affairs Committee met in Washington Tuesday to hear testimony² on Iran from Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.

Committee members raised questions about Iran's nuclear policy, possible further U.N. sanctions against Iran, and sectarian violence in the region.

Burns addressed the nuclear issue in his opening statement. "They've [Iran has] refused specifically to suspend their enrichment and reprocessing activities at their plant in Natanz, which is the condition for sitting down to talk to them."

Iran claims its nuclear plants are for peaceful purposes only.  But while enriched uranium is used to fuel nuclear power stations, it can also be used in nuclear bombs.

This concerns the U.S. and its allies, including China and Russia.  Burns says it is important to maintain a united front against Iran on this issue.  "One of the accomplishments³ of the last two years is that we have Russia and China and Europe united on a common approach to squeeze the Iranians."

Burns says another concern is that Iran is inciting⁴ violence in the Middle East.  He cited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal as one example. "When the Hamas leader visited Tehran this morning, it is true, and one member said this, and President Ahmadinejad apparently⁵ said -- if we're to believe the press reports -- that Hamas should continue its violent attacks on the government of Israel."

Burns says one way the U.S. is trying to bring peace to the Middle East -- Iraq in particular -- is by attending an upcoming meeting in Baghdad with European nations, Iran and Syria.

"To try to send a message that every one of those countries, particularly Iran and Syria, have a self-interest and an obligation to use their influence, for peace, for an end to the fighting among the ethnic⁶ groups there, and to secure stability at long last in Iraq itself."

Burns says diplomacy⁷ continues to be the best course of action in dealing⁸ with the Iranian regime.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

3 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 inciting   

刺激的，煽动的

参考例句：

• What are you up to inciting mutiny and insubordination? 你们干吗在这里煽动骚动的叛乱呀。
• He was charged with inciting people to rebel. 他被控煽动民众起来叛乱。

5 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 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。

8 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。