#MilitaryAffairs

(By Khalid Masood) Introduction: The Puzzle of Timing in a Volatile Region On February 26, 2026, mediators in Geneva reported “significant progress” in negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Omani diplomats, who have long served as the quiet custodians of this backchannel, described an “unprecedented openness to creative solutions.” Forty-eight hours later, the region was illuminated…