Level 1 - Absolute Beginner
Leaders from three countries went to Iran on Monday. They come from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. They want to stop a new war.
The United States and Israel are not friends with Iran. In the past months there were many problems near the Strait of Hormuz. This is a narrow sea road for oil ships.
On Monday, Iran's guard force said it attacked four ships near the strait. Oil is very expensive now. The price of Brent oil ended near 111 dollars.
- leader
- A person who is in charge of a group or country.
- war
- A big fight between countries.
- talks
- A serious conversation to solve a problem.
- ship
- A very large boat.
- oil
- A thick liquid used to make fuel.
- price
- How much money something costs.
- strait
- A narrow sea road between two pieces of land.
- expensive
- Costing a lot of money.
Level 2 - Elementary
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan opened talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday. They hope to keep the conflict with the United States and Israel from starting again at full size.
The visit came while the situation near the Strait of Hormuz stayed tense. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it attacked four ships there because they used a sea route that Tehran does not accept.
President Trump said Iran was making up stories about ships hitting mines to push oil prices up before the American elections in November. Brent oil finished Monday at 110.74 dollars a barrel, after it went above 117 dollars on Friday.
- official
- A person with an important job in a government.
- conflict
- A serious fight or disagreement.
- tense
- Full of worry, with a risk of trouble.
- route
- The path that a ship or car follows.
- mine
- A hidden bomb in water or on land.
- barrel
- The unit used to sell oil.
- election
- A day when people vote.
- reopen
- To open again.
Level 3 - Intermediate
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan opened talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday, in an effort to stop the confrontation with the United States and Israel from sliding back into full-scale war. According to reports, the three governments could offer Iran a regional security framework if the Strait of Hormuz reopens before, rather than after, Washington decides whether to strike.
The diplomacy is unfolding against a dangerous background. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it attacked four vessels near the strait for using a route that Tehran rejects, while President Trump accused Tehran of inventing reports of mines and missile strikes to drive up oil prices before the midterm elections on November 3.
The New York Times reported, citing unnamed officials, that American and Israeli forces have drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes after the vote, although Mr Trump has not decided. Markets are watching closely: Brent crude settled at 110.74 dollars a barrel on Monday, after Friday's attacks by the Houthis had pushed it above 117 dollars.
- confrontation
- A direct and angry clash between sides.
- framework
- A set of basic rules or ideas for an agreement.
- vessel
- A ship or large boat.
- unnamed
- Not identified by name.
- renewed
- Started again after a pause.
- crude
- Oil in its natural state, before it is refined.
- diplomacy
- The work of solving problems between countries by talking.
- midterm
- Describing US elections held halfway through a president's term.
Level 4 - Advanced
A delegation of senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan opened talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday, an attempt by three regional powers to prevent a rupture that could return the Gulf to open war. They are in a position to offer Tehran a regional security framework, but on a condition that carries real weight: that the Strait of Hormuz reopens before, not after, Washington makes up its mind about military action.
The mediation is taking place under fire. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it struck four vessels near the strait for following a route Tehran considers illegitimate, while Mr Trump accused the Islamic Republic of fabricating claims that ships were hitting mines or being hit by missiles and drones, a charge he linked to a bid to inflate oil prices ahead of the midterm elections on November 3.
Behind the rhetoric lies a harder timetable. The New York Times, citing unnamed American officials, reported that American and Israeli commanders have prepared detailed plans for renewed strikes once the vote has passed, and that Mr Trump, though undecided, appears to lean toward significant action. Energy markets are pricing that uncertainty: Brent crude settled at 110.74 dollars a barrel, having surged beyond 117 dollars after Friday's Houthi attacks.
- delegation
- A group chosen to represent others.
- rupture
- A sudden break in relations.
- mediation
- Help from a neutral party to settle a dispute.
- illegitimate
- Not accepted as lawful or valid.
- fabricate
- To invent something false and present it as true.
- rhetoric
- Forceful language meant to persuade.
- timetable
- A schedule of when things will happen.
- inflate
- To push a price or number upward.
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