VOA慢速英語：美國國務卿杰里在美為伊朗核協議尋求支持

Secretary of State John Kerry says a nuclear deal withIran will make the world safer and will improve the livesof the Iranian people. He also said the agreement wouldopen other opportunities between the U.S. and Iran. Hespoke to VOA on Tuesday.

Secretary of State Kerry has been meeting withmembers of Congress to build support for theagreement. He said he hopes its supporters willpersuade people that it will keep Iran from getting anuclear weapon and avoid conflict in the area.

“Some people just oppose the idea of doing a deal withIran. But I think when people really look at what isgained here, when they see that this is a possibility ofactually doing away with a potential of a nuclearweapon and of perhaps opening up the possibilities ofother good things happening, of a new relationship.”

Lawmakers have 60 days to study the deal. They canapprove the terms or reject them and refuse to endsanctions, which the U.S. Congress placed on Iran.President Obama has said he would veto any rejectionmeasure.

Even with approval of the deal, Mr. Kerry added it wouldbe another “six months or so” before any effects oflifting sanctions against Iran are felt. The Congressionalstudy period lasts until the middle of September. AndIran and the International Atomic Energy Agency have toanswer question about the Iranian nuclear program bylate December.

On the Iranian side, the document has been sent to the Iranian Majlis orparliament. However on Saturday, Iranian Supreme Leader AyatollahKhamenei said the nuclear deal does not signal cooperation with the U.S. onother issues. He said Iran would never accept what he called “the enemy’sexcessive demands.”

Mr. Kerry called the statement “pretty negative and pretty dramatic.” However, he said he remains an optimist about global affairs.

Some critics of the nuclear talks say the U.S. should have included the issuesof human rights and democratic reforms. Secretary Kerry said the state of theIranian nuclear program had to be the priority.

But he said the U.S. “will never stop believing in democracy and in people’srights.” He also promised the government will never stop raising the issue ofAmericans being held.

On Monday, the United Nations Security Council approved the nuclearagreement with Iran unanimously. The terms of the deal call for theInternational Atomic Energy Agency to observe and verify whether Iran isfulfilling the terms of the agreement. White House spokesman Josh Earnestsays the U.N.-approved deal has a “snap back” measure. If Iran is to violatethe agreement, the measure calls for a return to sanctions

After several months of negotiation, the U.S., Britain, China, France, Russiaand Germany reached the deal with Iran last week. However, Secretary Kerrynoted that there are many crises around the world. And the diplomats cannotpay attention on one without doing anything about the others.

“You can’t ignore what’s happening in Syria, you can’t ignore what’s happeningin Iraq, or what’s happening in Yemen, or what’s happening in Egypt or in theSinai,” he said.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Chris Hannas and Victor Beattie reported this story from Washington. MarioRitter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

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Words in This Story

potential–n. something able to become real; the possibility of

priority –n. something of first importance; the most important thing

unanimously–adv. without dissent or opposition; all are in agreement

verify –v. to prove that something is true or real