伊朗声称破获一宗恐怖袭击事件

AS IT IS 2016-06-21 Iran Claims It Has Stopped a Major Terrorist Attack 伊朗声称破获一宗恐怖袭击事件

Iranian state media say intelligence officials have stopped a terrorist plot in the country.

The reports say it was one of the biggest attacks ever planned against the capital Tehran and other provinces in the Islamic Republic.

In a statement, the intelligence ministry¹ said it had arrested several suspects and seized bombs and ammunition². Officials are questioning the suspects. The statement provided few other details.

Iran’s Supreme³ National Security Council chief reportedly said the attack was planned for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported the intelligence ministry said the attack had been set for the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Khadija. Iranians held small ceremonies on Thursday in honor of the anniversary.

The IRNA report called those who had been arrested “Wahhabi takfiris.” Takfiris is an insulting word in the Arabic and Farsi languages for Muslims who accuse others of being “nonbelievers.”

Iranian officials often use the word when they talk about supporters of the Sunni militant⁴ Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

Wahhabism is a very conservative form of Islam practiced mostly in Saudi Arabia.

Iran is a Shi’ite Muslim country. It has been fighting the Islamic State and helping⁵ both Syria and Iraq fight the group.

Tensions have been growing between Iran and Saudi Arabia since January. That month, Saudi officials executed a Shi’ite Muslim clergyman who had criticized the government.

Iranians protested the killing⁶ in Tehran, setting fire to the Saudi Embassy there.

Recently, Iran announced it would not be sending people to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. It said Saudi Arabia did not meet its requests for better security for Iranian visitors.

Words in This Story

practice – v. to live according to the customs and teachings of a religion

pilgrimage – n. a journey to a holy place

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

3 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。