VOA标准英语2009年-Brown: Iran Using Britain as Scapegoat for

The diplomatic row between Tehran and London continues to rumble¹.
　
Briish PM Gordon Brown leaves his residence at 10 Downing Street for the House of Commons in London, 01 Jul 2009

Speaking during prime minister's question time in the House of Commons, Gordon Brown said he believed some elements in Iran are using Britain as an excuse not to allow totally lawful² demonstrations³ to go ahead.

"Some people in Iran are trying to seek to use Britain as an explanation for the legitimate⁴ Iranian voices calling for the greater openness and democracy. But we will continue with our international partners to raise our concerns with Iran," the prime minister said.

Since the disputed June 12 elections, Britain and Iran have expelled two of each other's diplomats⁵. On Sunday, it was announced that nine Iranian staff members at the British embassy in Tehran were being detained and questioned for allegedly stirring unrest in the days after that election, an allegation strongly denied by London.

During his parliamentary question session, Gordon Brown expressed his view Iranian actions have been completely wrong.

"I am sure the whole House will share my deep disappointment at the recent behavior of the Iranian regime. Disappointment at the manner in which legitimate demonstrations have been suppressed, ... disappointment that the Iranian government has expelled two of our diplomats and detained several of our embassy staff, this action is unjustified and it is unacceptable," he said.

Most of the Iranian employees at the British Embassy who were detained have now been freed, but questions remain. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he thinks two are still being held. But Iran's English-language Press TV reported that only one person remained in detention⁶.

Meanwhile, senior European Union officials on Thursday will debate a British call for all 27-member states to pull their envoys⁷ from Iran. But many in Europe feel such a move would only further isolate⁸ Iran and that could bring with it additional unwanted consequences.

1 rumble   

n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说

参考例句：

• I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.我听到远处雷声隆隆。
• We could tell from the rumble of the thunder that rain was coming.我们根据雷的轰隆声可断定，天要下雨了。

2 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

3 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

4 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

5 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》

6 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

7 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。

8 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。