六国推动伊朗开展核对话

音频下载[点击右键另存为]
[The] United States and five other world powers are calling on Iran to accept face-to-face nuclear talks, ahead of a key meeting of the UN General Assembly later this month. Several countries have made it clear that they'll be pushing for tougher sanctions unless Iran comes up with clear evidence that it's stepped away from a nuclear weapons program.

Senior diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and host Germany have been meeting at Koenigstein, outside Frankfurt. Their closed-door discussion's centering on Iran's nuclear program. Known as the P-5+1, they came to progress talks with Iran before its nuclear activities again come up for consideration at United Nations.

"Of course, Iran has every right for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but as the United Nations Security Council has said many times that Iran is obliged to reply to all the open questions and doubts about its program."

They did not say if more sanctions were being considered against Iran. Russia and China are opposed, but Britain, France and Germany have been upping the ante, making it clear they want harsher sanctions if Tehran does not engage. The hard line comes despite a report by the UN atomic energy agency last week, saying that Iran had slowed its production of enriched uranium and had agreed to tighten monitoring of its enrichment plant. Washington, too, is skeptical. It's downplayed the IAEA report, saying Iran was not cooperating fully with the UN inspectors.

"Iran's strategy has been and continues to be to run out the clock."

On becoming US president, Barack Obama extended a hand to Iran if its leaders unclenched their fist. Earlier in the week, the French president made the point that the hand could not be outstretched endlessly to leaders, he said, who did not answer. Iran continues to insist its nuclear program is peaceful and says it has updated a set of proposals to put and it's ready for fresh talks.

Jane Braslin, World News Australia.

Glossary [only for reference]

 face-to-face: directly, meeting someone in the same place

United Nations General Assembly: one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation. Its powers are to oversee the budget of the United Nations, appoint the non-permanent members to the Security Council, receive reports from other parts of the United Nations and make recommendations in the form of General Assembly Resolutions.

push for sth [phrasal verb]: to demand something repeatedly, or to take strong action to try to make it happen

come up with sth [phrasal verb]: to suggest or think of an idea or plan

permanent members: the Security Council's five permanent members have the power to veto any substantive resolution, including China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States.

United Nations Security Council: one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action.

closed-door [only before noun]: closed-door meetings or talks take place secretly

center on something [phrasal verb]: if your attention centers on something or someone, or is centerd on them, you pay more attention to them than anything else

be obliged to do something: if you are obliged to do something, you have to do it because the situation, the law, a duty etc makes it necessary

up the ante: to increase your demands or try to get more things from a situation, even though this involves more risks

hard line: a strict way of dealing with someone or something

downplay [transitive]: to make something seem less important than it really is

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. The IAEA reports to both the General Assembly and the Security Council.

run out the clock: if a team runs out the clock at the end of a game, it tries to keep the ball for the rest of the game so that its opponents cannot get any points

extend [transitive]: to stretch out a hand or leg

unclench: release a clenched part of the body

outstretch: extend or stretch out something, especially a hand or arm

update [transitive]: to add the most recent information to something