Middle East Situation Tracking (May 17)

① Iran
1. Construction resumes on Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2.
2. A fire at an oil refinery in Iran injures at least 10 people.
3. According to Iranian official media: Iran's stock market will reopen next Tuesday.
② United States
1. The U.S. "Ford" aircraft carrier returns to its home port in the U.S.
2. Trump hints that the Iran situation is "calm before the storm."
3. The U.S. suspects Iranian hackers of infiltrating fuel monitoring systems at multiple gas stations across several states.
4. Sources: The U.S. and Israel may resume military actions against Iran as early as next week.
③ Israel
1. Israeli military: One soldier killed in fighting in southern Lebanon.
2. Israeli forces carry out airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in multiple locations in southern Lebanon.
④ Strait of Hormuz
1. U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict causes a sharp decline in Iraq's oil exports.
2. Iran: Ready with a mechanism to manage the Strait of Hormuz; details to be announced soon.
3. Iranian media: European parties have begun contact with the Revolutionary Guard regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
4. According to Iranian media: Iran states that after the instability in the Strait of Hormuz ends, shipping will return to normal.
5. U.S. Central Command: As of May 16, 78 commercial ships have been rerouted, 4 ships intercepted and halted to ensure compliance with the blockade.
6. According to Iran International TV: Iran has launched a new maritime insurance platform for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The system offers digital insurance policies.
⑤ Ceasefire Negotiations
1. Pakistan's Interior Minister visits Iran to discuss border security and other issues.
2. Trump: If a peace agreement cannot be reached, Iran will face a "very bad situation."
⑥ Other Developments
1. The current Israel-Lebanon conflict has resulted in 2,969 Lebanese deaths.
2. Pakistan's Interior Minister visits Iran to discuss border security and other issues.
3. In the past 48 hours, Gaza has been attacked multiple times, resulting in 13 deaths and 57 injuries.
4. British media: U.S. officials are encouraging the UAE to seize Iran's key island, Lavan Island.
5. The Hormuz Strait crisis remains unresolved; the U.S. continues to terminate exemptions on Russian oil sales.
6. Iranian media: Due to the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi oil production has fallen to its lowest level since 1990.
7. According to TASS: The Kremlin states that Putin had a phone call with the UAE president to discuss Middle East and Iran issues.