Mediators Push for US-Iran Talks as Ceasefire Deadline Nears
Listen to the story
The United States and Iran had a war. Now there is a ceasefire. This means the fighting has stopped for now.
The ceasefire has a deadline. The date is August 17. People are not sure what will happen after that date.
Some countries are acting as mediators. A mediator helps two sides talk to each other. These countries want the US and Iran to talk.
But there is a problem. Some reports say the US and Iran agreed to make the ceasefire longer. Other reports say this is not true.
An important Iranian official said Iran and the US are not talking about a longer ceasefire. This makes the situation unclear.
People around the world are watching closely. They want to know if the ceasefire will continue or if fighting could start again.
Vocabulary15 words
- ceasefire
- when countries stop fighting for a time
- mediators
- people or countries who help others agree
- deadline
- the last day to do something
- official
- a person with an important job in government
- extend
- to make something longer
- senior
- having a high or important position
- agree
- to say yes to the same thing
- conflict
- a fight or disagreement
- situation
- what is happening now
- unclear
- not easy to understand
- reports
- news information from journalists
- talks
- meetings where people discuss things
- war
- fighting between countries
- important
- having big meaning or value
- watching
- looking at something carefully
Quiz
Answer key
1. August 17 2. Help the US and Iran talk 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The United States and Iran had a war. Now there is a _____. This means the fighting has stopped for now.
The ceasefire has a _____. The date is August 17. People are not sure what will happen after that date.
Some countries are acting as _____. A mediator helps two sides talk to each other. These countries want the US and Iran to talk.
But there is a problem. Some _____ say the US and Iran agreed to make the ceasefire longer. Other reports say this is not true.
An important Iranian _____ said Iran and the US are not talking about a longer ceasefire. This makes the situation unclear.
People around the world are _____ closely. They want to know if the ceasefire will continue or if fighting could start again.