Difficult situation unknown in production of Times (6)

I believe the answer is:

stymie

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'difficult situation' is the definition.
'stymie' can be an answer for 'situation' (stymie is a kind of situation). I'm unsure of the 'difficult' bit.

'unknown in production of times' is the wordplay.
'unknown' becomes 'y' (algebra).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'production of' is an anagram indicator.
'times' anagrammed gives 'stmie'.
'y' going inside 'stmie' is 'STYMIE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stymie that I've seen before include "Frustrate" , "Block or obstruct as in golf (6)" , "balk" , "Thwart - block - my site (anag)" , "Hinder the progress of (something)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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