The guns may have fallen silent in the Gulf following the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States, but any suggestion that peace has arrived in the Middle East would be premature. Beneath the ceasefire and diplomatic engagements lies a potentially explosive negotiation process with several contentious issues threatening to derail the calm. The past week illustrated the current situation's contradictions. The US carried out strikes against Iranian military positions after a commercial vessel came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington accusing Tehran of violating understandings reached after the ceasefire.

US Vice President JD Vance warned that "violence will be met with violence," while simultaneously urging Iran to continue diplomatic engagement. Iran accused Washington of breaching the ceasefire and warned that any major or minor violation would be met with force. The exchange essentially captured the current Middle East reality: simultaneous........

© The Express Tribune