The nuclear deal struck between Iran and six world powers in July ended decades of negotiations and setbacks, and has been hailed by U.S. President Barack Obama as one of the major achievements of the year.
The deal stipulates U.S. and European sanctions against Iran will be lifted in return for a reduction of Tehran's nuclear facilities, to prevent it from developing atomic weapons.
In his latest assessment this month, Yukiya Amano, the head of the U.N nuclear watchdog agency the IAEA, said Iran is on track.
"If your question is that Iran is planning to complete their preparatory activities in two, three weeks' time, I do not have a reason to doubt it," Amano said.
That could lead to Western sanctions being lifted in early 2016. Obama cites the nuclear deal as one of his ten reasons to be optimistic heading into the new year.
"We succeeded in forging a strong deal to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," he said. "In fact, Iran has already dismantled thousands of centrifuges that enrich uranium."
Iran's new role
The agreement has transformed Iran's position on the world stage, says Mehrdad Khonsari of the Iranian Organization for Economic Reconstruction and National Reconciliation.
"It has ended Iran's isolation," Khonsari said. "It has created a forum whereby Iran can reintegrate itself into the international community."
That reintegration is shifting the regional power balance between Shia-led Iran and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia, who are backing different sides in civil conflicts in Syria and Yemen.
With the West now engaged in fighting Sunni extremists like the Islamic State, Iran is seen as less of a security threat, Khonsari says.
"I think that recognition has come in the aftermath of this nuclear agreement," he said, "coupled with the fact that when you look at the economy, and economic issues, you see that Iran is today, also, because of its population and resources, it is the world's, you might say, foreign investment market."
The most valuable of those resources — oil — is now up for grabs. The country announced this month that it is seeking $25 billion in investments from foreign companies in a large number of new contracts.
If sanctions are lifted early next year, the oil — and the money — will start flowing.
Vocabulary
centrifuge:离心机
uranium:[化学] 铀
911调查新进展 袭击或非恐怖分子所为
古尸曝出惊人秘密 黑死病DNA仍存在?
安全系统存漏洞 ATM机键盘余温或泄露密码
无奇不有,地震致失聪老人恢复听力
欧盟斥巨资鼓励人们食用昆虫
国内英语资讯:Chinese religious circles strongly condemn U.S. defamation of Chinas freedom of religious
生日决定命运 星座影响职场生涯
英国4岁小萝莉“丰乳肥臀”选美惹争议
国际英语资讯:New York States establishment of China Day celebrated in NYC
男士们对你牛仔裤的看法
简历上求职者那些最滑稽的事
辞职也要辞职得漂亮点
大学独立日:我们独自去报到
国内英语资讯:Public security minister stresses security, stability in 70th anniversary of PRC
与羊驼搭档以前玩冲浪
经典句子:爱情常是喜剧,偶尔是悲剧
体坛英语资讯:Chinese divers jump to finals at Universiade
太空垃圾数量已达“临界点”
好莱坞明星被黑客盯上 私人电话和裸照遭曝光
2019上半年CATTI笔译二级真题英译汉(第二篇)
汉语成全球第二热门商务语言
国际英语资讯:Voting begins in Japans upper house election
女性多次堕胎易致心理疾病
跟Sheldon学“剪刀石头布”
实验室有望在数年内培植出人体器官
国内英语资讯:Senior CPC official calls for further reform in political, legal fields
体坛英语资讯:Tottenham pay club record fee to sign Ndombele from Lyon
The Rainbow Over Rain 雨后彩虹
平板电脑已经out了 折叠笔记本时代到来
9-11事件残骸在华盛顿展出
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |