WorldApril 8, 2026

Ceasefire in the Gulf: Pakistan’s Diplomatic Offramp

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

ceasefire/ˈsiːsˌfaɪər/

a stop to fighting for a period of time

"The two countries agreed to a ceasefire."

Strait of Hormuz/streɪt əv hɔːrˈmuːz/

a narrow sea channel used by many oil ships near Iran

"Ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz."

negotiator/nɪˈɡoʊʃieɪtər/

a person who talks to reach an agreement

"A negotiator met with each side."

Listening

Ceasefire in the Gulf: Pakistan’s Diplomatic Offramp

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire proposed by Pakistan. The pause will allow negotiators to work on a broader agreement. Iran said it will allow safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz during the pause.

President Trump set a deadline before the deal and then said he would delay strikes after talks with Pakistan’s leaders. Oil prices fell after the announcement, as traders reacted to the news. Pakistan said it shared a detailed framework to stop the fighting and reopen shipping.

86 words

Quiz

1. Who proposed the ceasefire?

2. How long is the ceasefire?

3. What will be reopened during the pause?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you worry when you hear about wars far from your country? Why or why not?

Have you ever changed travel plans because of news about safety? What happened?

What do you think when you hear that leaders are talking to try to stop a war?