APPREHENSIONS regarding a fresh round of US-Iran hostilities are palpable, as the 60-day window for negotiations envisaged under the Islamabad MoU expired on Monday, with no forward movement on the diplomatic front. In fact, Tehran disputes the characterisation of the 60-day window as a deadline, with Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman saying it was only a “framework” to facilitate talks. Meanwhile, the noises coming out of Washington are not reassuring at all. US President Donald Trump has asked Iran to “put up the white flag of surrender” while also threatening to bomb his ally Oman if it “gets in the way”. Oman is currently negotiating with Iran to resolve the Strait of Hormuz crisis.........

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