STVOA070331

US Calls for British Sailors' Release (1/2)

 

MY HOMEWORK:

 

Asked about the Iranian ** of the British sailors, White House spokeswoman Dana Pereno only said President Bush spoke with British Prime Minister Blair in a previously scheduled conference call. “The President fully backs Tony Blair and our allies in Britain.”

State Department spokesman Tom Casy said the British sailors were operating legally in Iraqi waters, and called on Iran to respond to British’s call for their release. British says the two small royal navy ** were in Iraq waters when they were ** by sailors of Iran’s revolutionary guard. Iran disputes that, saying the craft had entered Iranian waters. The 15 were taken to Tehran for interrogation.

Prime Minister Blaire told the House of Commons it is now time to reach up the international and diplomatic pressure on Iran to secure the sailor’s release.
The U.S. navy is engaged in military exercises in Gulf waters, the largest such ** since 2003 U.S. invasion to Iraq . But State Department spokesman Casy said the exercises are normal, and should not be read as a signal or message to Iran.

KEY AND TRANSLATION:

 

Asked about the Iranian seizure of the British sailors, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino only said President Bush spoke with British Prime Minister Blair in a previously scheduled conference call.

"The president fully backs Tony Blair and our allies in Britain."

 

当被问及伊朗逮捕英国海员事件时，白宫女发言人 Dana Perino 只谈到布什总统与英国首相布莱尔在早先安排的电话会议中进行了沟通。她说，“布什总统完全支持布莱尔首相及我们英国的盟友。”

 

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the British sailors were operating legally in Iraqi waters and called on Iran to respond to Britain's call for their release.

 

美国国务院发言人 Tom Casey 说英国海员在伊拉克水域进行的是合法活动并呼吁伊朗响应英国的要求释放这些海员。

 

Britain says the two small Royal Navy patrol craftwere in Iraqi waters when they were seized by sailors of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Iran disputes that, saying the craft had entered Iranian waters. The 15 were taken to Tehran for interrogation.
Prime Minister Blair told the House of Commons that it is now time to ratchet up the international and diplomatic pressure on Iran to secure the sailors' release.

 

英国方面称其皇家海军的两艘小型巡航艇是在伊拉克水域被伊朗革命卫队海军逮捕的。但伊朗方面驳斥说该巡航艇已侵入了伊朗水域。艇上 15 人被带往德黑兰接受审问。布莱尔首相告知英国国会下议院现在是为解救海员对伊朗施加国际的 、 外交的压力的时候了。

 

The U.S. Navy is engaged in military exercises in Gulf waters, the largest such maneuvers since the 2003 U.S.invasion of Iraq. But State Department spokesman Casey said the exercises are normal and should not be read as a signal or message to Iran.

 

美国海军正致力于海湾水域的军事演习。这是自 2003 年攻打伊拉克以来最大的演习规模。但是国务院发言人 Casey 表示这只是一次普通演习，不应该把它解读为威胁伊朗的信号或讯息。

 

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES:

 

seizure n. 抓 , 捉 , 没收 , 查封 , 夺取

spokeswoman n. 女发言人 , 女代言人

State Department n.( 美国 ) 国务院

patrol v. 出巡 , 巡逻 n. 巡逻

patrol craft n. 巡逻艇

interrogation n. 审问 , 问号

house of commons n. 英国国会下议院

ratchet ( 防倒转的 ) 棘齿

diplomatic adj. 外交的 , 老练的

maneuver v. 机动 n. 机动 （PL）演习，操纵 v.i.演习，用计策

invasion n. 入侵

【地名】

Tehran 德黑兰（伊朗首都）