VOA标准英语2009年-US Official says Iran Confirms Holding 3 A

President Barack Obama's national security advisor¹ says Iran has confirmed it is holding three Americans who are believed to have strayed into Iranian territory while hiking in northern Iraq.

Retired² General Jim Jones says the Iranian government has cleared up any doubts about the location of three missing Americans.

"The government has officially acknowledged that they have them in their custody," Jones said. "As of this morning, we do have that confirmation³."

Jones was speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

The United States has no diplomatic relations with Iran. In recent days, Swiss and Iraqi officials have asked about the three Americans on Washington's behalf.

News reports identify them as two males and a female who did writing and environmental work.

Iranian state television has described the detainees as spies, a charge Jones rejected.

"We have sent strong messages that we would like these three young people released as soon as possible," Jones said. "These are innocent people. We want their families reunited."

Regarding Iran's nuclear program, Jones was asked if the Obama administration would engage in dialogue with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following Iran's disputed presidential vote and subsequent protests and unrest.

"He is the figure of authority that we have to deal with. But it is clear there are major events going on inside Iran that have to do with the [disputed presidential] election," Jones said. "But we have to deal with the figures of authority that are in position."

On another matter, Jones said the United States is nearly certain that an American missile strike in Pakistan last week killed the top-ranked Taliban leader in the country, and that a leadership struggle has since emerged within the militant⁴ group.

1 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。