Kuala Lampur, June 22 -- The world has entered a peculiar and dangerous phase in the confrontation between the United States and Iran.

Military strikes continue to cast long shadows over the Middle East even as diplomats gather in Switzerland to search for a political way forward.

President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could strike Iran "very hard" should Tehran fail to meet Washington's expectations, while Iran has signaled that any negotiations conducted under threats of force cannot be regarded as genuine diplomacy.

The result is a diplomatic process that appears active but remains fundamentally uncertain.

On paper, the latest memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offers an opportunity to ...