VOA标准英语2012 Israel Critical of Iran Nuclear Talks

Israel Critical of Iran Nuclear Talks

U.N. and E.U. nuclear talks with Iran have settled on another round of negotiations¹ next month in Baghdad.

And Israel is not happy about it. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says more time is just what Iran wants. "Well, my initial impression is that Iran has been given a [free chance]. It's got five weeks to continue enrichment without any limitation, any inhibition," he said. 

U.S. President Barack Obama says Iran is not getting a free pass and must show it is serious about complying with its international obligations. "I've been very clear to Iran and to our negotiating partners that we're not going to have these talks just drag out in a stalling process. But so far at least we haven't given away anything other than the opportunity for us to negotiate and see if Iran comes to the table in good faith," he said. 

With Israel openly considering a military strike to stop Iran's nuclear program...

Middle East analyst² Malou Innocent says the Obama administration is pressing for more time. "The Israeli government believes that negotiations are worthless, that we should just immediately press forward with more pressure and possible military strikes. So there seems to be some tension between the Israeli and U.S. governments," she said. 

The United States and European Union are tightening³ sanctions on Iran's oil and banking⁴ sectors⁵. 

President Obama says there will be no let up until the international community is satisfied that Iran's nuclear program is not for weapons. "Part of the reason we have been able to build a strong international coalition⁶ that isolates⁷ Iran around the nuclear issue is because the world has confidence that I've been sincere and my administration's been sincere about giving Iran an opportunity to pursue peaceful nuclear energy while foreclosing the pursuit of a nuclear weapon," he said. 

With Iranian ally Bashar al-Assad under pressure in Damascus, analyst Malou Innocent says the Obama administration is telling Israel to be patient. "History is going in Israel's favor in terms of the international pressure being brought on the Iranian government and now the internal insurrection against Assad's regime. So many within Washington are trying to pressure Tel Aviv to back down on the pressure and allow events to carry forward," he said. 

Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

U.N. Secretary General Bank Ki-moon says Tehran deserves the chance to demonstrate that to the international community. 

1 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。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

4 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

5 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 isolates   

v.使隔离( isolate的第三人称单数 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析

参考例句：

• The transformer isolates the transistors with regard to d-c bias voltage. 变压器可在两个晶体管之间隔离直流偏压。 来自辞典例句
• In regions with certain isolates of TRV, spraining is more prominent. 在具有TRV某些分离物的地区，坏死是比较显著的。 来自辞典例句