VOA慢速英语:United States, European Union say Iran May be Ready to Return to Nuclear Talks

American and European officials say Iran may be serious about returning to talks about its nuclear program.
美国与欧洲的官员称，伊朗可能会认真考虑就其核计划重返谈判桌。

Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington Friday. Later, Ms. Ashton talked to reporters about Iran's answer this week to a letter that she sent in October. Her letter asked Iran to return to the nuclear talks.
欧盟外交政策负责人凯瑟琳•阿什顿上周五在华盛顿会见了国务卿希拉里•克林顿。随后，阿什顿女士告诉记者，伊朗本周已经答复了她在去年十月份发出的一封信。她在信中要求伊朗重返核谈判。

CATHERINE ASHTON: "There is a potential possibility that Iran may be ready to start talks. We will continue to discuss and make sure that what we are looking at is substantive. I am cautious and I am optimistic at the same time for this."
凯瑟琳•阿什顿：“有一个潜在的可能就是伊朗可能已经准备开始谈判。我们将继续讨论，并确保我们所对待的事情是实质性的。我很谨慎，而同时我也对这件事很乐观。”

The United States and its allies believe Iran's goal is to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes.
美国及其同盟国认为，伊朗的目的是要发展核武器。伊朗则称其核计划是和平的民用计划。

In the letter, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, said his government is ready to restart talks at the earliest chance. But in return, he said, the international community must respect Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy.
伊朗首席核谈判代表贾利利在信中说，伊朗政府在最早的时候就准备重新启动谈判。但作为交换条件，他说，国际社会必须尊重伊朗和平利用核能的权利。

Secretary Clinton said the United States and other major powers are still considering Iran's letter. But she said it shows that Iran recognizes some of their concerns.
国务卿克林顿称，美国与其他主要国家仍在考虑伊朗的信函。但她说，这表明伊朗承认了一些他们所关注的事情。

HILLARY CLINTON: "Any conversation with Iran has to begin with a discussion of its nuclear program. And Iran's response to Cathy's letter does appear to acknowledge and accept that."
希拉里•克林顿：“任何与伊朗的对话都必须从其核计划开始讨论。而伊朗在回复Cathy的信中似乎表示承认与接受。”

The United States and the EU have been increasing sanctions against Iran. On Friday the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication said it is prepared to discontinue services to Iranian banks targeted by EU sanctions.
美国和欧盟一直在增加对伊朗的制裁。环球银行金融电讯协会（简称SWIFT）上周五表示，出于欧盟的制裁，他们正准备停止对伊朗的银行服务。

SWIFT is a member-owned cooperative used by banks and other organizations to exchange financial information. It said it is ready to act as soon as it gets a clear understanding of EU legislation currently being written. The United States has been urging the EU to block Iranian banks from access to the cooperative.
SWIFT是一个通过银行和其他机构间交换金融信息的会员合作机构。它称其已经准备好在获悉欧盟明确立法时迅速采取行动。美国一直敦促欧盟阻止伊朗获得合作银行。

Also on Friday, the presidents of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan met in Islamabad. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari held talks with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai. The three presidents promised to strengthen cooperation against extremism, terrorism and militancy.
同样在周五，伊朗，巴基斯坦和阿富汗总统在伊斯兰堡会面。巴基斯坦总统阿西夫•阿里•扎尔达里与伊朗的内贾德和阿富汗总统卡尔扎伊举行了会谈。三位总统承诺加强打击极端主义，恐怖主义和好战组织的合作。

Speaking through an aide, Mr. Ahmadinejad blamed "some countries" for the problems facing the area, but did not name any countries.
艾哈迈迪内贾德通过一名助手指责“某些国家”在该地区面临的问题，但没有明确点名任一个国家。

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: "Today, clearly all these powers are interfering in our internal affairs, in the affairs of our region with a military presence.  We believe that the problems of the region must be solved regionally. We should deny others the opportunity to interfere in our affairs."
内贾德：“今天，显然所有这些国家正在干涉我们的内政，通过军力展示干涉我们的地区事务。我们相信，地区的问题必须以地区为基础来解决。我们不应该给别人有机会干涉我们的事务。”

The presidents also discussed efforts to end hostilities between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The government has long said that Taliban chief Mullah Omar and other leaders are hiding in Pakistan. It says they are supervising Afghan militants with the help of Pakistan's main intelligence agency, the ISI. Pakistan denies the accusation.
两国总统还讨论了致力于结束阿富汗政府和塔利班之间的敌对行为。美政府早已表示，塔利班首领奥马尔和其他领导人藏匿在巴基斯坦。并表示他们在巴基斯坦主要情报机构三军情报局的帮助下，正监视着阿富汗的军队。巴基斯坦否认这一指控。