US Defense Chief Downplays Possibility of Iran Nuclear Deal

盖茨称未有伊朗核问题将达协议消息

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says if Iran is serious about accepting the international offer that could end the dispute over its nuclear program, it should do so soon, and through official channels. Gates was speaking to reporters in Ankara, in response to a statement by Iran's foreign minister at a conference in Germany.

The Iranian foreign minister was quoted in Munich as saying an agreement might be close. But Secretary Gates, who has been traveling, says he has not heard anything about that.

　

媒体在在慕尼黑援引伊朗外交部长的话说，协议可能很快达成。但是正在出访的美国国防部长盖茨说，他还没有听到有关此事的任何消息。

"Based on the information I have, I don't have the sense we're close to an agreement," he said.

　

他说：“就我所掌握的情况来看，我并不认为我们会很快达成协议。”

Gates said if Iran is ready to change its position and accept the offer made last year by the permanent Security Council members and Germany, it should do so soon, or the value of the plan for Iran to hand over all its low-enriched uranium will be diminished. But he has seen no indication Iran is ready to do that.

　

盖茨说，如果伊朗准备改变立场，接受联合国安理会常任理事国和德国去年提出的议案，那么它应该尽快这样做。如果不这样的话，伊朗转交其低浓缩铀计划的价值就会消失。但是他没有看到伊朗会立即这样做的任何迹象。

"They have done nothing to reassure the international community that they are prepared to comply with the NPT or stop their progress toward a nuclear weapon. And therefore I think that various nations need to think about whether the time has come for a different tack," he said.

　

他说：“他们没有做出任何行动来向国际社会保证他们将遵循《不扩散核武器条约》，或者他们会停止制造核武器的进程。所以我认为，有关各国需要考虑是否已经到了采取不同方法的时候了。”

Secretary Gates said the Obama administration has made an unprecedented effort to engage Iran in talks about its nuclear program, with what he called a disappointing response from Tehran. Now, he says, if Iran wants to get serious about talks it should do so through official channels, not through public statements.

　

盖茨说，奥巴马政府作出了巨大努力和伊朗讨论有关它的核问题。但是德黑兰的回应令人失望。盖茨说，如果伊朗现在认真地要进行谈判，那么它应当通过官方渠道，而不是发表公开声明。

"My view is that's a discussion that the Iranians would better hold at the IAEA than at the Munich conference, or in news conferences by President Achmedinijad," he said.

　

盖茨说：“我的观点是，如果伊朗要进行讨论，最好是在国际原子能机构，或者由内贾德总统在新闻发布会上公布，而不是在慕尼黑会议上发表这个意见。”

In spite of the disappointment about Iran's response to Western proposals so far, Gates said he believes the countries involved would respond positively, if Iran is ready to accept the current plan. But he said the more time that goes by, the less value there will be to the plan for Iran to send all its low-enriched uranium abroad for enrichment for peaceful purposes.

　

盖茨说，尽管伊朗对西方国家提议的回应令人感到失望，但是他相信如果伊朗要接受目前的计划，参与会谈的国家会积极回应。但是他说，等待的时间越长，这个计划的价值就越低。该议案要求伊朗将它的低浓缩铀运往国外进行浓缩以用于和平目的。

Experts are concerned Iran could have produced more of the material in the meantime and diverted it to a nuclear weapons program.

　

一些专家担心，伊朗可能在这一时期生产更多的原料，并且将其转入一个核武器项目。