Crossword Genius

An unknown obligation’s around that is causing concerns (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

anxieties

'concerns' is the definition.

'an unknown obligation's around that is' is the wordplay.
'unknown' becomes 'x' (algebra).
'obligation's' becomes 'ties'.
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'that is' becomes 'ie' ('i.e.' can be a synonym of 'that is').
'x'+'ties'='xties'
'xties' going around 'ie' is 'xieties'.
'an'+'xieties'='ANXIETIES'

'causing' is the link.

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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