2007年VOA标准英语-British Service Members Detained in Iran Arrive

By Sonja Pace
London
05 April 2007

The 15 British sailors and marines detained in Iran for nearly two weeks have arrived home in Britain.  VOA's Sonja Pace reports from London, Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed their return, but says no deals were made with Iran to gain their release.

Fifteen British navy personnel held captive in Iran pose for photograph upon  arrival at Heathrow airport, in west London, 05 Apr 2007

The British navy crew arrived at London's Heathrow airport at midday.  Dressed in their military uniforms, they paused briefly¹ for photos and were then taken straight to waiting military helicopters and flown to a military base southwest of London for debriefing² and private reunions with their families.

Prime Minister Blair welcomed their return.

"We are glad that our service personnel returned safe and unharmed from their captivity," he said.

The sailors and marines were detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces March 23 and accused of having strayed into Iranian territorial³ waters in the Gulf⁴, an accusation⁵ Britain rejects.

In a surprise move Wednesday, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the sailors and marines were being released.

There were intense discussions between London and Tehran to end the standoff and Mr. Blair said a dual⁶ track of talk and pressure was responsible for a successful outcome.

"We have managed to secure the release of our personnel more quickly than many people anticipated and have done so, and I want to make this very clear, without any deal, without any negotiation⁷, without any side agreement of any nature whatever," Mr. Blair said.

Mr. Blair said this dual strategy is one the international community should continue to follow in dealing⁸ with Iran, whether it concerns neighboring Iraq, terrorism or Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The British prime minister also lamented⁹ the death of four British soldiers in Basra, in southern Iraq.

"Just as we rejoice at the return of our 15 service personnel, so today we are also grieving and mourning for the loss of our soldiers in Basra, who were killed as a result of a terrorist act," he said.

The four soldiers and a civilian¹⁰ interpreter were killed by a roadside bomb.

In his comments in London, Mr. Blair did not link the Basra attack to Iran, but he said there are elements of the Iranian government that back, finance, arm and support terrorism in Iraq.  It is a charge Tehran denies.

1 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

2 debriefing   

n.任务报告，任务报告中提出的情报v.向（外交人员等）询问执行任务的情况( debrief的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• We've got the rescued soldiers in there for debriefing. 我们把被救的士兵带到了这里做一个报告。 来自电影对白
• Attention, all fighters are to return to moon base for debriefing. 注意，所有战斗机返回月球基地做任务报告。 来自互联网

3 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

5 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

6 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

7 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

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。

9 lamented   

adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• her late lamented husband 她那令人怀念的已故的丈夫
• We lamented over our bad luck. 我们为自己的不幸而悲伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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。