Change of guard ceremony to shift to new timing from Saturday

Global attention is focused on these talks, as their outcome could profoundly impact West Asian security, energy markets, and international diplomacy.

Trump seems to have estimated that Ghalibaf is a pragmatic politician who is receptive to close relations with the US and is enthusiastic about fostering business and economic ties in particular, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

The core issues to be settled -- access to Hormuz, Israel's aggression in Lebanon, the question of Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and compensation -- are thorny enough to require weeks of patient negotiation.The most likely...