VOA慢速英语: 美国政策影响伊朗核谈判

US Politics Could Affect Iran Nuclear Talks

美国政策影响伊朗核对话

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, prior to nuclear talks in Vienna, Austria, Nov. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, pool)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he will continue to try to negotiate an end to the dispute between Iran and Western nations over Iran’s nuclear program. Iran and six world powers failed to reach an agreement on limiting the program. Negotiators had set a time limit in November. However, the U.S. Congress may not accept any deal even if the negotiators reach an agreement.

美国国务卿约翰·凯瑞称他会继续加强伊朗和西方国家的谈话，试图结束伊朗的核问题争论。伊朗未能与六国就限制项目达成协议。11月，谈判国设定了一个时限。但是，即使谈判各国达成一致协议，美国国会也不会接受任何协议。

In September 2013, Mr. Kerry was hopeful as he began his first official meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Mr. Zarif says the two men discussed Iran’s nuclear program.

2013年9月，凯瑞与伊朗外长穆罕默德·贾瓦德·扎里夫进行首次会晤时，满怀希望，扎里夫称二人讨论了伊朗核计划问题。

“Now, we have to see whether we can match our positive words with serious deeds so that we can move forward.”

“现在，我们要看看是否能用积极的对话来解决彼此的诉求，推动谈判继续发展。”

Since then, the two men have met many times. Negotiators for Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany have been trying to reach an agreement on limiting Iran’s nuclear enrichment activity.

从那时起，这两位人物进行多次会面。伊朗的谈判代表、联合国安理会五个常任理事国和德国对于限制伊朗的核问题试图达成一致协议。

Iransays its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but some Western nations believe Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons.

伊朗称发展核计划是出于和平目的，但是西方国家相信伊朗是为了发展核武器。

If Iran agrees to limit its nuclear program, financial restrictions, called “sanctions,” could be eased. The sanctions have severely damaged Iran’s economy.

如果伊朗同意限制核计划，那么就会减轻所谓的“经济制裁”。制裁严重损害了伊朗的经济。

After a series of meetings in the first six months of this year, negotiators extended their talks to November 24th.Then the talks were extended again. Mr. Kerry told reporters the extensions were no guarantee that the talks would be successful.

今年上半年，继一系列的谈话后，谈判代表会将谈话继续进行到11月24号。然后，会谈还会继续。凯瑞告诉记者：虽然谈判会继续进行下去，但是不能保证会取得不错的结果。

“These talks aren't going to suddenly get easier just because we extend them. They're tough. And they've been tough and they're going to stay tough."

“这些谈判不会突然变得容易，我们需要继续扩大对话，谈判过程一直以来很艰难，而且谈判还会继续艰难进行。”

Mr. Zarif says one problem is neither side trusts the other.

扎里夫称其中一个问题是双方彼此都不信任。

“The major obstacle was that there is a compounded mistrust, mutual.”

“最主要的障碍就是彼此存在的不信任。”

Negotiators now hope to reach a deal by July. However, the change in power in the U.S. Senate might affect the talks. Republicans, who oppose many of the policies of President Obama, won control of the Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate may not agree to end sanctions quickly even if negotiators reach an agreement.

谈判代表希望在7月份能够达成一致协议。但是，美国参议院政权的更换也会影响谈判。共和党人获得参议院的控制权，反对奥巴马总统的很多政策。即使谈判代表达成一致协议，共和党人控制的参议院也不会同意这么快结束经济制裁。

Robert Einhorn is a senior fellow at the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative at the Brookings Institution, a research group. He says the Obama administration will wait for the International Atomic Energy Agency to report on whether Iran is cooperating with international nuclear inspections.

罗伯特·艾宏是布鲁金斯学会研究小组的资深研究员，他在军备控制和武器不扩散小组。他说奥巴马政府会等待国际原子能组织对于伊朗是否与国际核检查组合作的报道。

“The Obama administration believes that, with the new Congress that will be seated in January, it can’t go to them right away and ask for a vote to lift sanctions. They believe that the case will be much stronger later on, if and when the IAEA reaches a conclusion that Iran is in compliance.”

“奥巴马政府相信，新国会议员在1月份会就职，国会不能立即投票取消制裁。如果国际原子能总署能得出伊朗遵循国际法的结论，他们相信处理情况的呼声就会更强大。”

Mr. Einhorn says members of Congress may take action against Iran if negotiators do not reach an agreement soon.

艾宏称如果谈判代表不能很快达成协议，国会议员也许会采取措施反对伊朗。

“Members of Congress are anxious to impose additional sanctions. That could have a disruptive effect.”

“国会议员急于施加额外的制裁，那这样就会有破坏性的影响。”

Secretary Kerry says negotiators still have, in his words, “significant points of disagreement.” But, he says they believe an agreement is still possible.

国务卿凯瑞称谈判还会继续“存在明显的分歧”。但是他说他们相信可能达成一致协议。

I’m Christopher Cruise.

我是克瑞斯托弗·克鲁斯。

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

positive – adj. good or useful

deed – n. something that is done; an act or action

enrichment – n. to improve the usefulness or quality of (something) by adding something to it

sanctions – n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, (usually plural)

compounded – v. to make (something, such as an error or problem) worse; to add to (something bad)

mutual – adj. shared between two or more people or groups

anxious – adj. wanting or eager to do or have something very much, especially because of fear or nervousness

impose – v. to cause (something, such as a tax, fine, rule, or punishment) to affect someone or something by using your authority

disruptive – adj. to interrupt the normal progress or activity of (something)

significant – adj. very important

Do you believe Iran should be able to develop its nuclear program? Do you believe Iranian officials when they say they are using the program for peaceful purposes or do you agree with the Western nations who believe Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon? Do you believe Iran should be able to have nuclear weapons? We want to hear from you. Write your thoughts in the comments section.