The Europeans – led by Merkel, Blair, and Chirac – should agree to assure the US that Europe is ready to pay a high, perhaps very high, economic price by taking decisive action to intensify the sanctions against Iran. But they should offer this only on two strict preconditions: that the military option be taken off the table, and that all parties involved – including the US – enter into direct negotiations with Iran.
欧洲人—在默克尔、布莱尔和希拉克的领导下—应该一致向美国确保欧洲准备付出高昂的、甚至是极为高昂的经济代价，采取决定性的行动加强对伊朗的制裁。但他们的这项承诺只能在两个严格的前提条件下做出：军事干预不予考虑，各方—包括美国—都必须参加与伊朗的直接谈判。