伊朗呼吁重启核问题谈判

短语讲解：

1. Iran's National Security Adviser Saeed Jalili is calling for a new round of negotiations with the West over its nuclear program, amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf over threats by Tehran to close the vital Strait of Hormuz.

call for需要; 要求
例句：The letter calls for an investigation of the facts.
来信要求对这些事实进行调查。

2. The U.S. later countered with a promise to keep the strait open - calming oil markets, which had been roiled by the earlier threats.

counter with以…反击; 提出与之抗衡的(建议、计划等)
例句：The debater countered with another argument.
这个辩论者提出另一个论点进行反驳。

3. Iran also appeared to have backed down Saturday from an earlier vow to launch long-range missiles during its ongoing 10-day naval maneuvers in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz. 

back down退让, 退回去, 撤销(要求等)
例句：After being confronted with our evidence, the other side had to back down.
面对我们的证据, 另一方不得不退让。

4. He said that the Iranian naval maneuvers in the region of the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean are aimed at keeping the vital Strait of Hormuz open, and that Iran is testing its defensive capabilities, including various missiles in its arsenal.

aim at (以…)瞄准; 针对, 以…为目标
例句：The visit was aimed at expanding the relations between the two countries.
访问的目的是扩展两国的关系。

5. Iran analyst Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute in Washington says Tehran is trying to show that it is capable of closing the Strait of Hormuz, while at the same time trying to resume negotiations over its nuclear program which broke off last January

be capable of能够
例句：Susan is capable of hard work.
苏珊能胜任艰苦的工作。
break off停止; 断交
例句：When she came in, Bob broke off his talk with Jane.
当她进来时, 鲍伯停止了和珍的谈话。

6. "The primary message, I think, from the latest Iranian naval exercises and their suggestion that they are both able and perhaps willing to close down the Strait of Hormuz, if it comes down to that, is for the Iranians to say to the West that they, too, can raise the stakes," said Vatanka.

close down(使)停业, (使)停产
例句：Because of the continued loss, the factory closed down.
由于连续亏损, 工厂关闭了。
come down to归结起来(为…)
例句：Their quarrel comes down to money.
他们的吵架说到底是为钱。

7. "The Iranians have resorted to bluffing and to trying to intimidate people into inaction against them," said Khonsari.

resort to诉诸于,采取, 依靠,求助于
例句：When his wife left him, he resorted to drink.
妻子离去后,他借酒消愁。
intimidate into恫吓(某人)使之(做某事)
例句：They were intimidated into giving him the money.
他们被吓得把钱交给了他。

8. He goes on to argue that the Iranians "are in no position to carry out any of their threats," and that most policy-makers in the West Know that.

carry out执行; 贯彻
例句：If you make a promise, it should be carried out.
你许了诺言, 就一定要兑现。

9. Some analysts say that economic sanctions recently passed by the U.S. Congress preventing dealings with Iran's central bank could prompt Tehran to lash out at the West.

lash out大手笔地花钱, 大量给予(某物)
例句：He lashed out half his fortune on his daughter's wedding.
他大手笔地拿出一半财产给女儿办婚事。