— 🇺🇸/🇨🇳/🇮🇷 NEW: President Trump will land in Beijing on Wednesday, May 13th, and leave on Friday

He will meet with Chairman Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.

U.S. officials believe they have a strong and unique opportunity to push Iran with the help of China, to sign a multi-faceted peace deal that is acceptable to President Trump.

‘Senior U.S. officials insist the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s refusal to make nuclear concessions will prove to be an afterthought once the summit starts’, per the WSJ.

@Middle_East_Spectator

Would not be surprised if the U.S. & Israel attack before Trump’s visit to China.

I don’t put anything past them anymore.

— 🇮🇷/🇶🇦 NEW: A Singapore-flagged LNG tanker originating in Qatar tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz, but was instructed to turn back by Iran

It’s unclear if the vessel obtained permission beforehand.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 Iran’s Foreign Ministry, in response to Trump’s comments:

‘We have not made any unreasonable requirements or demands. The only thing we have asked for is the legitimate rights of Iran.

I leave the decision to you and our people as to whether they consider Iran's demand for a ceasefire in the region, or for a ceasefire in the Persian Gulf, or for the release of Iranian assets that have been illegally frozen by the United States in foreign banks for years, an unreasonable demand?

Is Iran's proposal for guaranteeing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz an unreasonable demand? Is raising an important issue such as establishing peace and security throughout the region, including Lebanon, considered an irresponsible demand?

Unfortunately, the American parties still insist on their one-sided views and unreasonable demands, influenced mainly by the mindset largely fabricated by the Zionist regime.’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷/🇺🇸 Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ismael Baqaei:

‘Iran has proven to be a responsible power in the region, and at the same time, we are not bullies. Rather, we are anti-bullying. Just look at our conduct, and then look at the conduct of others.

Were we the ones who launched a military campaign against a country thousands of miles away? Were we the ones who killed 170 innocent people in a single day? Are we the ones intimidating and bullying Cuba, Venezuela, and other countries in the Western Hemisphere? Are we the ones who, during a diplomatic process, committed such a great crime — twice?

Is attacking a country, destroying its infrastructure, and assassinating the leader and citizens of a country an example of responsible behavior?’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump:

‘I’m being waited on by a large group of generals — having to do with the absolutely lovely country of Iran ‘

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump:

‘People say ‘well, does he have a plan?’

Of course I do. I have the best plan ever.’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump:

‘Iran told me very strongly that they intend to give us the nuclear dust.

They told me ‘you’re getting it but you’re gonna have to take it out’.

Because the site was so obliterated there’s only one or two countries in the world that could get it, the U.S. or China.’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump:

‘You have the moderates and you have the lunatics. The lunatics want to fight till the end.

I call them lunatics, they’re stupid people. But the moderates are dying to make a deal.’

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump:

‘The ceasefire is unbelievably weak. I would call it the weakest right now.

What they sent us [Iran’s latest response] was a piece of garbage, I didn’t even finish reading it.

It was a waste of time. So the ceasefire is on life support. It’s on massive life support. Like when the doctor walks in and says ‘sir, your loved one has approximately 1% chance of living’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump:

‘Is Iran stupid? Are they stupid people? They think that I’ll get tired of this or I’ll get bored or get pressured.

There is no pressure, no pressure at all. We will have a complete victory, we’ve already in theory had a complete victory from a military standpoint’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump: ‘Iran’s leaders are dishonorable people. They took 4 days to send us a piece of paper that should have taken 10 minutes to prepare, and it was garbage’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump: ‘Iran’s leaders are crazy, they’re crazy — I deal with them all the time, they’re lunatics’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump:

‘Iran attacked Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia — they attacked everywhere.

Nobody expected them to attack, they weren’t supposed to do that. But it was a waste, we knocked down all of those missiles with our beautiful patriots’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Iran’s semi-official media Tasnim News Agency reports that they have genuinely no clue what Trump is talking about anymore, and there was never a proposal to hand over uranium to the United States

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇱/🇮🇷 NEW: President Trump is considering restarting military action against Iran following a deadlock in negotiations, and will meet with generals later today

Options that will be presented include a resumption of ‘Project Freedom’ that would see U.S. military escorts for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Another option is resuming strikes against 25% of identified targets in Iran that have not yet been hit.

Additionally, Israel is pressuring Trump to authorize a high-stakes special operation to retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium, but the President is hesitant due to high risks. – Axios

@Middle_East_Spectator

🇮🇷| Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Ghalibaf:

Our armed forces are ready to respond in a lesson-teaching manner to any aggression.

We are prepared for all options; they will be surprised.

@FotrosResistancee