The Reading / Listening - Iran Nuclear Deal - Level 6

Talks between Iran and the USA to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are set to resume. At this early stage, the discussions will be indirect and there will be no face-to-face meetings between high-level officials. The discussions will take place in Vienna and European officials will act as intermediaries. On the table is the revival of the 2015 pact under which economic sanctions on Iran were eased in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. This pact was intended to make it harder for Iran to develop nuclear weapons and was abandoned by Donald Trump under his administration. Officials in Tehran have always denied they have had any intentions to develop such weapons.

Negotiators on both sides say the talks will be difficult and neither side foresees any early breakthroughs. US President Joe Biden is keen to re-engage with Iran and revive the nuclear deal. He hopes Iran will resume its compliance with the 2015 deal. US negotiator Robert Malley said: "The primary issues to be discussed are actually quite simple. They are, on the one hand, the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord, and on the other hand, the sanctions-relief steps that the United States would need to take." Iran said it is ready to "reverse its remedial measures, which were taken because of the opposite side's violation of the treaty."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Iran Nuclear Deal - Level 4  or  Iran Nuclear Deal - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-iran-talks-nuclear-deal/2021/04/05/8fc279dc-962e-11eb-b28d-bfa7bb5cb2a5_story.html
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/6/vienna-talks-iran-and-world-powers-begin-nuclear-negotiations
  • https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-expects-difficult-iran-talks-sees-no-quick-breakthrough


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. NUCLEAR WEAPONS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about nuclear weapons. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       talks / nuclear / deal / officials / discussions / revival / weapons / intentions / develop
       negotiators / compliance / primary / issues / steps / hand / remedial / measures
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. MORATORIUM: Students A strongly believe there should be a moratorium (total ban) on nuclear weapons; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. IRAN: Go online and find out about these things about Iran. What did you find out? What do you think of these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Found Out

What I Think?

Food

 

 

Literature

 

 

Religion

 

 

Sightseeing

 

 

History

 

 

Language

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. DEAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "deal". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ENERGY: Rank these with your partner. Put the best forms of energy at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Nuclear
  • Solar
  • Oil
  • Bio-fuel
  • Wind power
  • Hydro-electricity
  • Tidal energy
  • Thermal energy

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. revive a. A thing one set out to do; an aim or plan.
      2. resume b. A person who acts as a link between people in order to try to bring about an agreement.
      3. intermediary c. Stop from happening; restrain or keep in check.
      4. pact d. Bring back to how it was before.
      5. curb e. Having been deserted or cast off.
      6. abandoned f. Begin to do or pursue something again after a pause or interruption
      7. intention g. A formal agreement between individuals or parties.

    Paragraph 2

      8. negotiator h. The action or fact of following a wish or command.
      9. foresee i. Action taken by a nation to get another nation to conform to an international agreement.
      10. breakthrough j. The action of breaking rules.
      11. compliance k. Be aware of beforehand; predict.
      12. sanctions l. Giving or intended as a cure.
      13. remedial m. A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.
      14. violation n. A person who conducts talks and discussions.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. There will be high-level face-to-face meetings at the talks.     T / F
  2. The talks will take place in the city of Vienna.     T / F
  3. Officials from Asia and Africa will act as intermediaries at the talks.     T / F
  4. Donald Trump's government abandoned the 2015 pact.     T / F
  5. The negotiators say they predict a few early breakthroughs.     T / F
  6. A U.S. negotiator said the primary issues are extremely complicated.     T / F
  7. The U.S. negotiator said he would talk about sanctions-relief steps.     T / F
  8. Iran said it is ready to reverse remedial measures it took.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. revive
  2. intermediaries
  3. pact
  4. intended
  5. denied
  6. foresees
  7. compliance
  8. primary
  9. steps
  10. violation
  1. breach
  2. agreement
  3. anticipates
  4. refuted
  5. go-betweens
  6. adherence
  7. measures
  8. resuscitate
  9. main
  10. meant

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. set
  2. At this early
  3. there will be no face-to-face
  4. economic
  5. denied they
  6. neither side foresees any
  7. resume its compliance
  8. steps that Iran would
  9. Iran said it is ready to reverse
  10. the opposite side's violation
  1. have had any intentions
  2. with the 2015 deal
  3. need to take
  4. stage
  5. of the treaty
  6. sanctions
  7. to resume
  8. its remedial measures
  9. meetings
  10. early breakthroughs

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
abandoned
level
sanctions
revive
such
stage
table
curbs

Talks between Iran and the USA to (1) _____________________ the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are set to resume. At this early (2) _____________________, the discussions will be indirect and there will be no face-to-face meetings between high- (3) _____________________ officials. The discussions will take place in Vienna and European officials will act as intermediaries. On the (4) _____________________ is the revival of the 2015 pact under which economic (5) _____________________ on Iran were eased in return for (6) _____________________ on Iran's nuclear program. This pact was intended to make it harder for Iran to develop nuclear weapons and was (7) _____________________ by Donald Trump under his administration. Officials in Tehran have always denied they have had any intentions to develop (8) _____________________ weapons.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hand
violation
resume
accord
remedial
neither
primary
steps

Negotiators on both sides say the talks will be difficult and (9) _____________________ side foresees any early breakthroughs. US President Joe Biden is keen to re-engage with Iran and revive the nuclear deal. He hopes Iran will (10) _____________________ its compliance with the 2015 deal. US negotiator Robert Malley said: "The (11) _____________________ issues to be discussed are actually quite simple. They are, on the one (12) _____________________, the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear (13) _____________________, and on the other hand, the sanctions-relief (14) _____________________ that the United States would need to take." Iran said it is ready to "reverse its (15) _____________________ measures, which were taken because of the opposite side's (16) _____________________ of the treaty."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Talks between Iran and the USA to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are ______
     a.  set to resume
     b.  set to presume
     c.  set to assume
     d.  set to consume
2)  there will be no face-to-face meetings between ______
     a.  high-level official
     b.  high-level officially
     c.  high-level office shawls
     d.  high-level officials
3)  On the table is the revival of the 2015 pact under which ______
     a.  economics sanctions
     b.  economical sanctions
     c.  economically sanctions
     d.  economic sanctions
4)  harder for Iran to develop nuclear weapons and ______ Donald Trump
     a.  was a band donned by
     b.  was abandon do by
     c.  was abandoned by
     d.  was abs band on by
5)  Officials in Tehran have always denied they have ______
     a.  had any indentures
     b.  had any intentions
     c.  had any indentured
     d.  had any intentional

6)  the talks will be difficult and neither side foresees ______
     a.  any early breaks through
     b.  any early breaks threw
     c.  any early brake thoughts
     d.  any early breakthroughs
7)  revive the nuclear deal. He hopes Iran will ______
     a.  resume its compliance
     b.  resume its competence
     c.  resume its companies
     d.  resume its comply ants
8)  steps that Iran would need to take to return to compliance with the 2015 ______
     a.  nuclear record
     b.  nuclear a chord
     c.  nuclear a cord
     d.  nuclear accord
9)  Iran said it is ready to reverse ______
     a.  its remedy measures
     b.  its redial measures
     c.  its remedial measures
     d.  its remedy ail measures
10)  which were taken because of the opposite side's violation ______
     a.  of the treaty
     b.  oft the treaty
     c.  aft the treaty
     d.  off the treaty

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Talks between Iran and the USA (1) ____________________ 2015 Iran nuclear deal are set to resume. At (2) ____________________, the discussions will be indirect and there will be no face-to-face meetings between (3) ____________________. The discussions will take place in Vienna and European officials will act as intermediaries. On the table is the revival of the 2015 pact under which (4) ____________________ Iran were eased in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. This pact was intended to make it harder for Iran to develop nuclear weapons (5) ____________________ by Donald Trump under his administration. Officials in Tehran have always denied they have (6) ____________________ to develop such weapons.

Negotiators (7) ____________________ say the talks will be difficult and neither side foresees any early breakthroughs. US President Joe Biden is (8) ____________________ with Iran and revive the nuclear deal. He hopes Iran will resume its compliance with the 2015 deal. US negotiator Robert Malley said: "The (9) ____________________ be discussed are actually quite simple. They are, on the one hand, the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take to (10) ____________________ with the 2015 nuclear accord, and on the other hand, the (11) ____________________ that the United States would need to take." Iran said it is ready to "reverse its remedial measures, which were taken because of the opposite side's (12) ____________________ treaty."

Comprehension questions

  1. At what stage of the meetings will discussions be indirect?
  2. In what European city will the discussions take place?
  3. What things were eased in the 2015 pact?
  4. What was the pact intended to make it harder for Iran to do?
  5. Who said Iran never had any intentions to develop nuclear weapons?
  6. What do negotiators not foresee in the talks?
  7. Who is keen to re-engage with Iran?
  8. What did a U.S. negotiator say about the primary issues?
  9. What kinds of steps did the negotiator say the US would need to take?
  10. What did Iran say it would reverse?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  At what stage of the meetings will discussions be indirect?
a) stage three
b) at the early stages
c) towards the end
d) in the middle
2)  In what European city will the discussions take place?
a) Berlin
b) Paris
c) London
d) Vienna
3) What things were eased in the 2015 pact?
a) economic sanctions in Iran
b) discussions
c) tensions
d) demands
4) What was the pact intended to make it harder for Iran to do?
a) sell nuclear power
b) buy nuclear weapons
c) develop nuclear weapons
d) use nuclear power
5) Who said Iran never had any intentions to develop nuclear weapons?
a) the US president
b) officials in Tehran
c) Iran's president
d) negotiators

6) What do negotiators not foresee in the talks?
a) early breakthroughs
b) a miracle
c) any progress
d) friction
7) Who is keen to re-engage with Iran?
a) the world
b) Iran's neighbours
c) the US president
d) China
8) What did a U.S. negotiator say about the primary issues?
a) they are quite simple
b) they are secondary
c) not much
d) a lot
9) What kinds of steps did the negotiator say the US would need to take?
a) sanctions-relief steps
b) baby steps
c) dance steps
d) complicated steps

10) What did Iran say it would reverse?
a) its decisions
b) its policies
c) nuclear fission
d) remedial measures

Role play

Role  A – Nuclear
You think nuclear is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): solar, energy from oil or tidal.

Role  B – Solar
You think solar is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): nuclear, energy from oil or tidal.

Role  C – Oil
You think energy from oil is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): solar, nuclear or tidal.

Role  D – Tidal
You think tidal is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): solar, energy from oil or nuclear.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'nuclear'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'deal'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • resume
    • face
    • table
    • eased
    • abandoned
    • denied
    • difficult
    • hopes
    • primary
    • hand
    • steps
    • opposite

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Iran Nuclear Deal

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'nuclear'?
    3. What do you know about the 2015 Iran nuclear deal?
    4. What do you think about nuclear power?
    5. What do you think about nuclear weapons?
    6. What do you know about Iran?
    7. Why did the U.S. impose sanctions on Iran?
    8. How effective are sanctions?
    9. How successful do you think the discussions will be?
    10. What advice do you have for the negotiators?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'deal'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do some countries have nuclear weapons?
    5. How good are you at negotiating?
    6. What are your countries relations with Iran and the USA like?
    7. What do you think this situation will be like a year from now?
    8. Why does Iran think the USA violated the 2015 treaty?
    9. Should any country have nuclear weapons?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the negotiators?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Talks between Iran and the USA to (1) ____ the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are set to resume. At this early stage, the discussions will be indirect and there will be (2) ____ face-to-face meetings between high-level officials. The discussions will (3) ____ place in Vienna and European officials will act as intermediaries. On the table is the revival of the 2015 pact under (4) ____ economic sanctions on Iran were eased in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. This pact was (5) ____ to make it harder for Iran to develop nuclear weapons and was abandoned by Donald Trump under his administration. Officials in Tehran have always denied they have had any intentions to develop (6) ____ weapons.

    Negotiators on both sides say the talks will be difficult and (7) ____ side foresees any early breakthroughs. US President Joe Biden is (8) ____ to re-engage with Iran and revive the nuclear deal. He hopes Iran will resume its compliance with the 2015 deal. US negotiator Robert Malley said: "The primary issues to be discussed are actually (9) ____ simple. They are, on the one hand, the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take to return (10) ____ compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord, and on the other hand, the sanctions-(11) ____ steps that the United States would need to take." Iran said it is ready to "reverse its remedial measures, which were taken because of the opposite side's violation (12) ____ the treaty."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     revive     (b)     revival     (c)     revivify     (d)     rev    
    2. (a)     none     (b)     not     (c)     no     (d)     no-no    
    3. (a)     give     (b)     have     (c)     take     (d)     do    
    4. (a)     who     (b)     them     (c)     that     (d)     which    
    5. (a)     intended     (b)     intends     (c)     intention     (d)     intend    
    6. (a)     for     (b)     such     (c)     lots     (d)     so    
    7. (a)     all     (b)     both     (c)     either     (d)     neither    
    8. (a)     keenly     (b)     keen     (c)     key     (d)     keep    
    9. (a)     quit     (b)     quiet     (c)     quite     (d)     quilt    
    10. (a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    11. (a)     relic     (b)     relive     (c)     relieve     (d)     relief    
    12. (a)     oft     (b)     of     (c)     aft     (d)     off

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. set to sermue
    2. officials will act as eemisardnreiit
    3. economic tcanisosn
    4. nndbaeaod by Donald Trump
    5. Officials in Tehran have always deinde they have
    6. tntniesoni to develop such weapons

    Paragraph 2

    1. osnrogittea on both sides
    2. resume its pemlcancoi with the 2015 deal
    3. the 2015 nuclear aodccr
    4. The yrpmira issues
    5. reverse its mlereida measures
    6. the opposite side's tvoiainol of the treaty

    Put the text back together

    (  1  ) Talks between Iran and the USA to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are set to resume. At this early
    (...)  stage, the discussions will be indirect and there will be no face-to-face meetings between high-
    (...)  Negotiators on both sides say the talks will be difficult and neither side foresees any early
    (...)  denied they have had any intentions to develop such weapons.
    (...)  return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord, and on the other hand, the sanctions-relief
    (...)  steps that the United States would need to take." Iran said it is ready to "reverse its remedial
    (...)  weapons and was abandoned by Donald Trump under his administration. Officials in Tehran have always
    (...)  measures, which were taken because of the opposite side's violation of the treaty."
    (...)  level officials. The discussions will take place in Vienna and European officials will act as
    (...)  with the 2015 deal. US negotiator Robert Malley said: "The primary issues to be discussed are actually quite
    (...)  breakthroughs. US President Joe Biden is keen to re-engage with Iran and revive the nuclear deal. He hopes Iran will resume its compliance
    (...)  for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. This pact was intended to make it harder for Iran to develop nuclear
    (...)  intermediaries. On the table is the revival of the 2015 pact under which economic sanctions on Iran were eased in return
    (...)  simple. They are, on the one hand, the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take to

    Put the words in the right order

    1. discussions   this   be   early   will   At   stage,   indirect   .
    2. will   officials   .   There   meetings   between   face-to-face   no   be
    3. return   .   were   Iran   sanctions   eased   on   Economic   in
    4. make   harder   .   it   This   to   was   pact   intended
    5. have   had   any   they   Denied   to   intentions   develop   .
    6. He   resume   Iran   will   its   hopes   compliance   .
    7. actually   are   to   discussed   simple   .   be   Issues   quite
    8. the   nuclear   to   accord   .   with   2015   Return   compliance
    9. sanctions-relief   States   The   steps   would   the   need   .   United
    10. said   ready   measures   .   Iran   it's   to   reverse   remedial

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Talks between Iran and the USA to relive / revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are set to resume. At this early state / stage, the discussions will be indirect and there will be not / no face-to-face meetings between high-level officials. The discussions will take / give place in Vienna and European officials will act was / as intermediaries. On the table is the revival of the 2015 pact / packed under which economic sanctions on Iran were eased in return for kerbs/ curbs on Iran's nuclear program. This pact was intention / intended to make it harder for Iran to develop nuclear weapons and was abandoned by Donald Trump under / below his administration. Officials in Tehran have always denied they have had any intentions to develop so / such weapons.

    Negotiators on both / either sides say the talks will be difficult and either / neither side foresees any early breakthroughs. US President Joe Biden is keen / keenly to re-engage with Iran and revive the nuclear deal. He hopes Iran will resume its competence / compliance with the 2015 deal. US negotiator Robert Malley said: "The primary issues to be discussed are actually / actual quite simple. They are, on the one palm / hand, the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear record / accord, and on the other hand, the sanctions-relief steps what / that the United States would need to take." Iran said it is ready for / to "reverse its remedial measures, which were taken because of the opposite side's violation at / of the treaty."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    T_lks  b_tw__n  _r_n  _nd  th_  _S_  t_  r_v_v_  th_  2015  _r_n  n_cl__r  d__l  _r_  s_t  t_  r_s_m_.  _t  th_s  __rly  st_g_,  th_  d_sc_ss__ns  w_ll  b_  _nd_r_ct  _nd  th_r_  w_ll  b_  n_  f_c_-t_-f_c_  m__t_ngs  b_tw__n  h_gh-l_v_l  _ff_c__ls.  Th_  d_sc_ss__ns  w_ll  t_k_  pl_c_  _n  V__nn_  _nd  __r_p__n  _ff_c__ls  w_ll  _ct  _s  _nt_rm_d__r__s.  _n  th_  t_bl_  _s  th_  r_v_v_l  _f  th_  2015  p_ct  _nd_r  wh_ch  _c_n_m_c  s_nct__ns  _n  _r_n  w_r_  __s_d  _n  r_t_rn  f_r  c_rbs  _n  _r_n's  n_cl__r  pr_gr_m.  Th_s  p_ct  w_s  _nt_nd_d  t_  m_k_  _t  h_rd_r  f_r  _r_n  t_  d_v_l_p  n_cl__r  w__p_ns  _nd  w_s  _b_nd_n_d  by  D_n_ld  Tr_mp  _nd_r  h_s  _dm_n_str_t__n.  _ff_c__ls  _n  T_hr_n  h_v_  _lw_ys  d_n__d  th_y  h_v_  h_d  _ny  _nt_nt__ns  t_  d_v_l_p  s_ch  w__p_ns.

    N_g_t__t_rs  _n  b_th  s_d_s  s_y  th_  t_lks  w_ll  b_  d_ff_c_lt  _nd  n__th_r  s_d_  f_r_s__s  _ny  __rly  br__kthr__ghs.  _S  Pr_s_d_nt  J__  B_d_n  _s  k__n  t_  r_-_ng_g_  w_th  _r_n  _nd  r_v_v_  th_  n_cl__r  d__l.  H_  h_p_s  _r_n  w_ll  r_s_m_  _ts  c_mpl__nc_  w_th  th_  2015  d__l.  _S  n_g_t__t_r  R_b_rt  M_ll_y  s__d:  "Th_  pr_m_ry  _ss__s  t_  b_  d_sc_ss_d  _r_  _ct__lly  q__t_  s_mpl_.  Th_y  _r_,  _n  th_  _n_  h_nd,  th_  n_cl__r  st_ps  th_t  _r_n  w__ld  n__d  t_  t_k_  t_  r_t_rn  t_  c_mpl__nc_  w_th  th_  2015  n_cl__r  _cc_rd,  _nd  _n  th_  _th_r  h_nd,  th_  s_nct__ns-r_l__f  st_ps  th_t  th_  _n_t_d  St_t_s  w__ld  n__d  t_  t_k_."  _r_n  s__d  _t  _s  r__dy  t_  "r_v_rs_  _ts  r_m_d__l  m__s_r_s,  wh_ch  w_r_  t_k_n  b_c__s_  _f  th_  _pp_s_t_  s_d_'s  v__l_t__n  _f  th_  tr__ty."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    talks between iran and the usa to revive the 2015 iran nuclear deal are set to resume at this early stage the discussions will be indirect and there will be no facetoface meetings between highlevel officials the discussions will take place in vienna and european officials will act as intermediaries on the table is the revival of the 2015 pact under which economic sanctions on iran were eased in return for curbs on irans nuclear program this pact was intended to make it harder for iran to develop nuclear weapons and was abandoned by donald trump under his administration officials in tehran have always denied they have had any intentions to develop such weapons

    negotiators on both sides say the talks will be difficult and neither side foresees any early breakthroughs us president joe biden is keen to reengage with iran and revive the nuclear deal he hopes iran will resume its compliance with the 2015 deal us negotiator robert malley said the primary issues to be discussed are actually quite simple they are on the one hand the nuclear steps that iran would need to take to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord and on the other hand the sanctionsrelief steps that the united states would need to take iran said it is ready to reverse its remedial measures which were taken because of the opposite sides violation of the treaty

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TalksbetweenIranandtheUSAtorevivethe2015Irannucleardealarese
    ttoresume.Atthisearlystage,thediscussionswillbeindirectandtherew
    illbenoface-to-facemeetingsbetweenhigh-levelofficials.Thediscuss
    ionswilltakeplaceinViennaandEuropeanofficialswillactasintermediar
    ies.Onthetableistherevivalofthe2015pactunderwhicheconomicsanc
    tionsonIranwereeasedinreturnforcurbsonIran'snuclearprogram.Thi
    spactwasintendedtomakeitharderforIrantodevelopnuclearweapons
    andwasabandonedbyDonaldTrumpunderhisadministration.Officials
    inTehranhavealwaysdeniedtheyhavehadanyintentionstodevelopsu
    chweapons.Negotiatorsonbothsidessaythetalkswillbedifficultandnei
    thersideforeseesanyearlybreakthroughs.USPresidentJoeBideniskee
    ntore-engagewithIranandrevivethenucleardeal.HehopesIranwillre
    sumeitscompliancewiththe2015deal.USnegotiatorRobertMalleysaid
    :"Theprimaryissuestobediscussedareactuallyquitesimple.Theyare,
    ontheonehand,thenuclearstepsthatIranwouldneedtotaketoreturnto
    compliancewiththe2015nuclearaccord,andontheotherhand,thesanc
    tions-reliefstepsthattheUnitedStateswouldneedtotake."Iransaiditi
    sreadyto"reverseitsremedialmeasures,whichweretakenbecauseoft
    heoppositeside'sviolationofthetreaty."

    Free writing

    Write about Iran nuclear deal for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The talks between the USA and Iran will work. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. NUCLEAR WEAPONS: Make a poster about nuclear weapons. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. MORATORIUM: Write a magazine article about there being a moratorium (ban) on all nuclear weapons. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on nuclear weapons. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on nuclear weapons. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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