VOA慢速英语:Iran Nuclear Agreement Called a Good First Step

This week, Iranian and international negotiators agreed on first steps to limit Iran's nuclear program. They also agreed to ease international economic pressure on Iran. The agreement was reached early Sunday in Switzerland.
本周，伊朗和国际社会谈判代表就限制伊朗核项目的初步措施达成一致。他们还同意减轻对伊朗的国际经济压力。该协议于周日上午在瑞士达成。

Secretary of State John Kerry described the agreement as a first step toward a possible peaceful settlement with Iran.
美国国务卿约翰•克里称该协议是和平解决伊朗问题的第一步。

American officials say Iran will dilute or weaken its near weapons grade uranium so it can not be used in weapons. Iran has also agreed to inspections of its nuclear centers.
美国官员表示，伊朗应该稀释或减弱其接近武器级别的浓缩铀，这样就不能用于生产核武器。伊朗还同意国际社会对其核设施进行检查。

In exchange, the United States and other countries will ease actions meant to punish Iran for its nuclear activities. But they will continue the strongest restrictions on Iran's oil exports and banking system.
作为交换，美国和其他国家将缓解惩罚伊朗核项目的措施。但是对伊朗石油出口和银行系统的最严厉的限制仍将继续。

The deal was delayed because of a dispute over Iran's claim to a right to enrich the metal uranium. The United States says no such right exists for any country. Different levels of enriched uranium are needed to produce nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif spoke to reporters after the deal was announced.
由于伊朗宣称进行铀浓缩是他们的权利引发争议，该协议被延迟。美国表示，任何国家都不享受这种权利。用于核能和核武器的浓缩铀水平是不同的。伊朗外长穆罕默德•贾瓦德•扎里夫（Mohammed Javad Zarif）在协议公布后对记者表示：

"Many times, at least twice very explicitly in this text, this recognition is there that Iran will have an enrichment program. And we believe that we are right, and we are exercising that right and we only require respect for that right."
“许多次，协议文本中至少两次明确认可伊朗可以进行铀浓缩项目。我们认为我们是对的，我们在行使该权利，也要求尊重我们的这种权利。”

The nuclear agreement has many critics. Israeli officials say it does nothing to stop Iranian efforts to build nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the deal.
该核协议受到许多批评。以色列官员表示，它对阻止伊朗发展核武器起不到任何作用。以色列总理内塔尼亚胡谴责了这份协议。

He said this is not a historic agreement, but a historic mistake.
他说，这并不是历史性的协议，而是历史性的错误。

In Washington, President Barack Obama sought to answer concerns of Israel and American partners in the Middle East. Mr. Obama said the deal halts Iran's nuclear program for the first time in almost 10 years. He said the next step will be to negotiate a detailed and lasting solution.
在华盛顿，奥巴马总统试图回应以色列及中东地区盟国的担忧。奥巴马表示，这份协议使得近十年来伊朗核项目第一次被叫停，他表示，下一步将会对具体细节和持久解决方案进行谈判。

The president appealed to American lawmakers not to move forward with new sanctions against Iran. Senator Saxby Chambliss is a member of the Republican Party from Georgia. He objects to any easing of economic pressure against Iran.
奥巴马总统呼吁美国立法者不要对伊朗实施新的制裁。参议员Saxby Chambliss是来自佐治亚州的共和党成员。他反对缓解对伊朗的经济压力。

"Now is just not the time to ease sanctions when they are working."
 “制裁措施正在发挥作用，现在不应该放宽。”

Many people are waiting to see what happens next. Ephrim Asculai was an official with the International Atomic Energy Agency. He now works at the Institute for Defense Security Studies in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. He says the agreement answers many concerns over Iran's nuclear activities. But he is worried about some of the details, like whether Iran will let international inspectors visit all of its nuclear centers.
许多人正在拭目以待接下来会发生什么。Ephrim Asculai是国际原子能机构官员。他现在在以色列城市特拉维夫国防安全研究所工作。他表示，该协议回答了针对伊朗核活动的许多担忧。但他对一些细节表示担忧，像伊朗是否将会允许国际核查人员参观它们所有的核设施。

Mark Fitzpatrick is with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. He says the two sides must now honor the agreement to show they can honor a deal.
Mark Fitzpatrick就职于伦敦的国际战略研究所。他说，双方现在必须遵守该协议，以展示他们能够遵守该协议。

"Implementing it will show that they both mean what they say. It'll be very important that the two sides carry it out so that both sides can show their doubters – and both sides have real skeptics and doubters – that the other side can strike a deal and keep to it."
“实施该协议能够表明他们说到做到。双方都应该认真实施，这样才能向怀疑者表明——双方都有一些怀疑者——另外一方可以达成并遵守协议。”