Middle East Situation Tracking (April 23)

U.S.-Israel-Iran Conflict:
① Iran
1. Iranian media reports that Iran sees "some signs" indicating the U.S. is preparing to lift sanctions.
2. Iranian Revolutionary Guard: Ready to respond to any new aggression, such as resuming war, and will "deal a devastating blow to remaining enemy assets."
3. Maleki, a member of Iran's National Security Committee: The reasons for the negotiation team's failure to participate in the second round include maritime blockade, attacks on Iranian ships, and U.S. threats.
② United States
1. Trump: Iran's finances are collapsing.
2. U.S. Treasury Secretary: Gulf and Asian allies have requested to establish dollar swap lines.
3. Trump said a new round of U.S.-Iran talks could be restarted as early as Friday.
4. U.S. media reports that Trump will only extend the ceasefire for 3 to 5 days; White House and Trump deny this. Trump states there is "no time pressure" for the ceasefire.
5. White House Press Secretary LaVarr: Published a statement refuting reports that "Iran's current military strength exceeds the scale acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Defense."
⑤ Strait of Hormuz
1. UK Maritime Trade Operations Office: An attack on a ship near Oman; the captain said a Revolutionary Guard gunboat approached and fired at the vessel.
2. Iran: Has enforced maritime law against a container ship that ignored warnings.
3. Iranian Revolutionary Guard seized two illegal ships and transferred them to Iranian coastal waters.
4. White House: Trump believes Iran's seizure of ships does not violate the ceasefire; such actions are considered piracy.
5. Iranian Speaker of Parliament: The U.S. openly violating the ceasefire agreement makes it impossible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
6. U.S. Central Command: Ordered 29 ships to return or sail back to their ports of origin.
7. Shipping and security sources: The U.S. military has intercepted at least three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters.
8. U.S. Department of Defense: Clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz would take six months.
⑥ Ceasefire Negotiations
1. Trump: A new round of U.S.-Iran talks could be restarted as early as Friday.
2. Trump expects Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi to continue participating in Iran negotiations.
3. Iranian Foreign Ministry: Has not yet decided whether to participate in a new round of talks with the U.S.
4. Pakistan has warned the U.S. and Iran that "no negotiations, only war"; the next phase of conflict could be catastrophic.
5. Pakistani officials: Received positive signals from Iran about willingness to restart face-to-face negotiations.
④ Other Developments
1. Lebanese Speaker of Parliament: The Israeli military should unconditionally withdraw from southern Lebanon.
2. According to the Saudi National News Agency: An Israeli drone attack in the Wazzani Valley in Lebanon resulted in one death and two injuries.
3. Lebanese Prime Minister Salam: The government does not seek confrontation with Hezbollah and will not be intimidated during direct negotiations with Israel.
4. U.S. media reports that the Trump administration has suspended dollar shipments to Iraq and frozen security cooperation projects with the Iraqi military, increasing pressure on Baghdad to disband powerful Iran-backed militias.
5. Lebanese officials told AFP on the 22nd that Lebanon will request an extension of the ceasefire period by one month during talks with Israel.
6. According to Israel's Channel 12: Dozens of U.S. military cargo planes loaded with ammunition landed today at Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel.