【Middle East Situation Tracking (May 2)】

① Iran
1. Iran’s Supreme Leader: At this stage, efforts need to be made to promote “economic resistance.”
2. Iranian sources: Iran still has deep distrust of the United States.
3. The U.S. claims the attack on Iran was “self-defense”; Iran angrily denounces it as blatant aggression.
4. Iran’s Parliament speaker, Kalibaf: The days of rebuilding after defeating hostile superpowers are approaching.
5. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency says that, contrary to baseless claims from the White House, there are currently no signs that oil storage capacity is about to run out.
6. According to Iranian media reports, an explosion involving unexploded war ordnance occurred in northwest Iran, killing 14 Iranian Revolutionary Guard members.
7. U.S. media: Iran is considering using dolphins carrying sea mines to attack U.S. military warships.
8. Iran says the Supreme Leader is in good health.
② United States
1. The U.S. Navy’s Ford aircraft carrier has left the Middle East.
2. Middle East media: The United States “is about to decide” whether to restart military actions against Iran.
3. Trump hints that he will not seek Congressional approval for ongoing military actions against Iran.
4. Trump tells the U.S. Congress that the Iran conflict is over, circumventing the war authorization process.
5. According to AXIOS: The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that the blockade has caused Iran losses of $4.8 billion.
6. Bessent: The blockade will continue until Iran restores wartime navigation freedom.
7. U.S. media: U.S. military facilities at 16 locations across 8 Middle Eastern countries were damaged in attacks on Iran.
8. The U.S. State Department approved the sale of weapons to Israel and four other Middle Eastern countries.
9. The U.S. Defense Secretary ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 troops stationed in Germany; the drawdown will be completed within the next 6 to 12 months.
10. The White House formally informed Congress: Although U.S. troops are still stationed in the region, the U.S. considers the conflict with Iran to have ended.
③ Israel
1. The Israeli military: It has destroyed Hezbollah’s command headquarters and military buildings in southern Lebanon.
2. An Israeli official: The ability of the Israel Defense Forces to remove Iranian enriched uranium is seen as the “key to determining the outcome” of the war.
④ Strait of Hormuz
1. The United States warns shipping companies that even if they pay transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz under the name of charity, it will still expose them to the risk of sanctions.
2. Oil tanker tracking agency TankerTrackers: The number of tankers that have rerouted to Iran after carrying crude oil continues to increase.
3. U.S. Central Command: U.S. forces continue to carry out the maritime blockade against Iran. At present, 45 merchant ships have been instructed to turn around or return to port.
4. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard: It will turn the Hormuz waters into a “source of security and prosperity.”
5. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard: The newly established regulations for managing the Persian Gulf have been set, and will be implemented according to the Supreme Leader’s historic directive.
6. U.S. forces use AI technology to sweep mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
⑤ Ceasefire talks
1. Saudi media: Iran agrees to talks on nuclear issues and to freeze uranium enrichment for the long term.
2. U.S. media: Iran has relaxed the conditions for resuming talks with the United States.
3. Trump says that Iran’s negotiations have made progress, but that it is not enough.
4. Trump says he is “not satisfied” with Iran’s latest submitted negotiation proposal.
5. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian: If the U.S. changes its extreme attitude, threatening remarks, and provocative actions, Iran is willing to continue advancing the diplomatic process.
6. The White House: (When asked about whether Iran submitted a proposal to Pakistan) We will not disclose details of the private diplomatic talks; negotiations are still ongoing.
⑥ Other developments
1. Trump claims that the United States has more weapons in its stockpiles than at any time before.
2. Trump says he “may” travel to France to attend the G7 summit.