Srinagar, May 19 -- Srinagar - After pressing pause on war talk and claiming the UAE and other Gulf allies had urged restraint, Donald Trump was back at it within 24 hours - dangling fresh threats at Iran and serving up another round of geopolitical suspense.

"I hope we don't have to do the war, but we may have to give them another big hit," Trump told reporters on Tuesday, before launching into a vague countdown that left everyone guessing.

"How long?" he was asked.

"Well. two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday - something maybe early next week," Trump replied.

The US president's latest "maybe-war, maybe-not" routine instantly reignited speculation over a return to hostilities with Iran - and drew eye-rolls from market wat...