英語学習

英語ニュース教材:Russia, Iran sign nuclear power plants deal as sanctions loom(Intermediate レベル)

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

Russia and Iran have made a significant agreement to work together on building nuclear power plants. This deal involves the Russian state-owned company, Rosatom, and aims to develop eight new nuclear plants in Iran by the year 2040. This collaboration is part of their mutual interest in expanding energy resources, which is crucial for both countries. Russia is looking to strengthen its influence in the region, while Iran seeks to boost its energy production and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The timing of this agreement is particularly important due to the looming international sanctions. These sanctions are aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities due to concerns about its potential to develop nuclear weapons. However, both countries argue that the new plants will be used only for peaceful energy purposes. The agreement highlights a strategic partnership between Russia and Iran, as they both face political and economic pressures from Western countries.

This move is also seen as a way to improve Iran’s domestic energy supply. By 2040, with the completion of these nuclear plants, Iran hopes to meet its growing energy demands and reduce its carbon footprint. Nuclear energy is considered a cleaner alternative to oil and gas, which Iran heavily relies on. This could also lead to more stable energy prices and economic growth.

Furthermore, this deal could have broader geopolitical implications. By collaborating on nuclear energy, Russia and Iran are reinforcing their ties, potentially affecting the balance of power in the Middle East. Their partnership may also influence other neighboring countries’ energy strategies, pushing them to explore nuclear options.

Overall, this agreement between Russia and Iran is economically and socially significant, as it not only aims to expand energy resources but also has the potential to reshape regional dynamics and international relations.

📝 Vocabulary

  • agreement: a mutual arrangement between parties
    例文: “The two companies reached an agreement to work together on the project.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • reach an agreement
    • sign an agreement
    • negotiate an agreement
    合意
  • nuclear: relating to the nucleus of an atom or atomic energy
    例文: “Nuclear energy is considered a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • nuclear power
    • nuclear plant
    • nuclear energy
    核の
  • sanctions: restrictions imposed by one country on another, usually for political reasons
    例文: “International sanctions were imposed on the country due to its actions.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • impose sanctions
    • lift sanctions
    • economic sanctions
    制裁
  • expand: to increase in size or scope
    例文: “The company plans to expand its operations into new markets.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • expand business
    • expand operations
    • expand market
    拡大する
  • dependency: reliance on something or someone
    例文: “Reducing dependency on fossil fuels is a major goal for many countries.”
    Collocations/日本語の意味を見る
    • reduce dependency
    • energy dependency
    • financial dependency
    依存

✏️ Grammar Point

Future Perfect Tense – “By 2040, with the completion of these nuclear plants, Iran hopes to meet its growing energy demands and reduce its carbon footprint.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
未来完了形は、ある特定の時点までに完了することを示します

💡 使用場面

未来完了形は、将来の特定の時点までに何かが完了することを話すときに使います。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: Russia and Iran plan to build eight new nuclear plants by 2040.
  2. MCQ: What is the main purpose of the agreement between Russia and Iran?
    a) To develop nuclear weapons
    b) To expand energy resources
    c) To reduce oil prices
    d) To increase military presence
  3. MCQ: What could be a potential effect of this agreement on the region?
    a) Decreased energy prices globally
    b) Strengthened ties between Western countries
    c) Shift in regional power dynamics
    d) Increased fossil fuel dependency
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. True
  2. b) To expand energy resources
  3. c) Shift in regional power dynamics

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What is the target year for the completion of the new nuclear plants in Iran?
  2. Why do Russia and Iran emphasize that the nuclear plants are for peaceful energy purposes?
  3. What does the word “looming” suggest about the sanctions in the context?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. 2040
  2. They emphasize peaceful purposes to address concerns about nuclear weapon development.
  3. It suggests that the sanctions are impending or about to happen soon.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

ロシアとイランが核発電所の共同建設に合意したことは、エネルギー資源の拡大を目指す両国にとって重要な一歩です。特に、イランは化石燃料への依存を減らし、国内のエネルギー供給を強化することを目指しています。この合意は、国際的な制裁が迫る中での戦略的なパートナーシップを強調しています。ロシアは地域での影響力を強化し、イランは経済成長とエネルギー価格の安定を図ることが期待されています。この動きは中東の勢力均衡にも影響を与える可能性があり、他国のエネルギー戦略にも波及効果をもたらすでしょう。

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/24/russia-iran-sign-nuclear-power-plants-deal-as-sanctions-loom?traffic_source=rss