Level 1 - Absolute Beginner

Iran and the United States are in a long war. Many countries want it to end.

On Sunday, men from Qatar went to Tehran. On Monday, men from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan went there too.

They talked with Iran's leaders. They did not make a deal. They said they will keep talking.

President Trump says he must decide soon. He can make a deal, or he can attack again.

war

A fight between countries.

deal

An agreement between two sides.

leader

A person who is in charge.

talk

To speak with someone about a problem.

decide

To choose what to do.

attack

To start a fight with force.

soon

In a short time.

end

To stop.

Level 2 - Elementary

Diplomats from four countries have pushed Iran to end its war with the United States. Officials from Qatar visited Tehran on Sunday, and envoys from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan followed on Monday.

The Saudi defense minister, Pakistan's army chief and Turkey's intelligence chief met Iranian leaders. The meeting ended with a promise to keep talking, but there was no agreement.

The two sides are still far apart. The United States wants Iran to give up its stock of enriched uranium. Iran wants the American naval blockade lifted and its frozen money returned.

Time is short. Americans vote in midterm elections on November 3, and news reports say big new strikes could follow if there is no deal.

diplomat

A person who speaks for a country in talks with others.

envoy

A person sent to deliver a message or hold talks.

uranium

A metal used to make nuclear power and bombs.

blockade

When ships are stopped from entering or leaving a place.

frozen

Not allowed to be used, like money held by a bank.

election

A vote to choose leaders.

agreement

A deal that both sides accept.

strike

A military attack, often from the air.

Level 3 - Intermediate

A diplomatic scramble is under way to stop the war between the United States and Iran from restarting. Qatari officials arrived in Tehran on Sunday, and on Monday Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin held talks with Iranian leaders. The session ended with a pledge to continue dialogue on peace and security, but with no announced breakthrough on the war, the Strait of Hormuz or Iran's nuclear program.

The gap between the parties is well known. Washington insists that Iran surrender its enriched uranium stockpile, while Tehran says the American naval blockade must be lifted and its frozen funds released first. Qatari mediators have reportedly offered ideas to bridge the two positions, and a Pakistani official said Munir carried a proposal designed to give both sides something, with President Trump's approval to pursue diplomacy.

The calendar adds pressure. Trump has said he is weighing whether to make a deal or to finish the job, and Axios reported on Wednesday that mediators are pressing Iran for nuclear concessions because large strikes could follow the November 3 midterm elections. Meanwhile, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have continued, and Tehran says it is preparing a military response to any American action.

scramble

A hurried, disorganized effort to get something done.

pledge

A serious promise.

breakthrough

A sudden important success or advance.

stockpile

A large store of something kept for future use.

mediator

A neutral person who helps two sides reach agreement.

bridge

To connect or reduce a gap between two things.

concession

Something given up to reach an agreement.

retaliation

Harm done in return for harm received.

Level 4 - Advanced

The shuttle diplomacy converging on Tehran this week reflects a rare alignment of Gulf and regional powers behind a single objective: preventing a resumption of full-scale hostilities between the United States and Iran. Qatari officials arrived on Sunday, and on Monday Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir and Turkey's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin sat down with Iranian leaders. The meeting concluded with a commitment to sustained dialogue, yet it yielded no announced settlement on the war, the Strait of Hormuz or the nuclear file.

The substantive impasse has barely moved. Washington demands the relinquishment of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile; Tehran insists that the naval blockade be lifted and its frozen assets released beforehand. Qatari intermediaries have floated sequencing formulas, and a Pakistani official described a proposal engineered to offer each side a face-saving win, reportedly with Mr. Trump's blessing. Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been mentioned as possible guarantors should Iran accept.

What lends the effort urgency is the electoral calendar. Mr. Trump has framed his choice as striking a deal or finishing the job, and Axios reported on Wednesday that mediators are pressing Tehran for nuclear concessions because a far larger bombing campaign could follow the November 3 midterms. Hard-liners in Tehran have so far resisted compromise, Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia have persisted, and Iran says it is readying a military response to any American strike, leaving the diplomats to negotiate against a clock they do not control.

shuttle diplomacy

Negotiation in which a go-between travels between the parties.

alignment

A state of agreement or cooperation between groups.

impasse

A situation in which no progress seems possible.

relinquishment

The act of giving something up.

sequencing

The order in which steps are taken.

face-saving

Allowing a side to avoid embarrassment.

guarantor

A party that promises to make sure a deal is honored.

hard-liner

A person who refuses to compromise.