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Hormuz Crisis Tracker — 2026-05-13 · Morning Cycle


CRITICAL: TRUMP IN BEIJING — 48-HOUR DECISION WINDOW OPEN

Trump has arrived in Beijing for a state visit running May 13-15. This is the first US presidential visit to China since 2017. Bilateral meetings with Xi, state banquet, and working lunch planned across two days. Iran/Hormuz is central agenda alongside trade and Taiwan. China sources ~60% of crude through Hormuz. Trump invited Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and an array of US business leaders. The 48-hour window identified in C74 is now ACTIVE. Combat resumption is functionally paused during the state visit. Post-trip decision point: May 15-16.


CRITICAL: TRUMP — "I DON'T THINK ABOUT AMERICANS' FINANCIAL SITUATION"

As Trump departed for Beijing, he told reporters: "I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about anybody. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon." This statement lands against: CPI 3.8%, gas $4.50/gal (+44% YoY), 65% disapprove economy handling, 76% disapprove cost of living (ABC/WaPo/Ipsos). CNN analysis framed it as "gilded indifference." The domestic political feedback loop from C74 (oil → inflation → consumer pressure → political pressure) is now complicated by Trump publicly detaching from the consumer pain signal.


CRITICAL: 40-NATION MEETING OUTCOME — MULTINATIONAL MILITARY MISSION DECLARED

The UK/France-co-chaired defense ministers meeting (40+ countries) concluded May 12-13 with concrete outcomes:



Top-line movers (C74→C75 delta — 7 items)

  1. TRUMP IN BEIJING — STATE VISIT BEGINS TODAY. 48-hour window now ACTIVE. Iran/Hormuz central agenda. Xi holds leverage (rare earths, Iran channels). Combat resumption paused during visit. WINDOW OPEN.
  1. BRENT PULLED BACK TO $107.05 (−0.67%). Correcting from C74's $110.43 intraday surge. EIA forecasts ~$106/b May-June. Still +62% YoY. WTI settled at $102.18 on May 12. PARTIAL CORRECTION — STILL ELEVATED.
  1. TRUMP: "I DON'T THINK ABOUT AMERICANS' FINANCIAL SITUATION." 76% disapprove cost of living. 65% disapprove economy. Statement made departing for Beijing. NEW — POLITICAL SIGNAL: NUCLEAR > ECONOMIC IN TRUMP'S CALCULUS.
  1. 40-NATION MISSION DECLARED. UK/France-led, "strictly defensive," "when conditions allow." Australia contributes E-7A Wedgetail. No minesweeping. Post-ceasefire framing. NEW — OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK EXISTS BUT NOT YET DEPLOYED.
  1. LEBANON TALKS MAY 14-15 CONFIRMED. Simon Karam (Lebanon) vs Ron Dermer (Israel) delegations. Washington venue. Trump in Beijing during talks. Hezbollah opposes direct negotiations. 13 killed in Lebanon May 12 despite ceasefire. CONFIRMED — SCHEDULING COLLISION ACTIVE.
  1. EIA: GLOBAL INVENTORIES TO FALL 8.5M B/D IN Q2. Brent forecast ~$106/b May-June. Aramco CEO Nasser: market losing ~100M bbl/week. NEW — INSTITUTIONAL FORECAST CONFIRMS STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
  1. IEA: ~20% OF STRATEGIC RESERVES RELEASED. Member nations have deployed approximately one-fifth of available reserves to date. NEW — DEPLETION BENCHMARK.

1. Conflict Status — DAY 75 / CEASEFIRE DAY 36

ParameterC74C75Δ
War day7475+1
Ceasefire day (Iran-US)3536+1
Ceasefire status"1% chance of living" — window closingSame — "massive life support"; Trump in Beijing; combat resumption paused for 48h48-HOUR PAUSE ACTIVE
Trump postureDeparting for Beijing; $4.50/gal burdenIN BEIJING. "I don't think about Americans' financial situation." Nuclear > economic.ARRIVED + STATEMENT
Iran postureGhalibaf: "ready for all options"Confirmed — sovereignty over Hormuz; compensation; sanctions lift; no nuclear concessions upfrontCONFIRMED
US military optionsDecision window closing with China departurePaused during state visit. Post-trip May 15-16 is decision point.PAUSED
Coalition40-nation meeting in sessionMeeting concluded: UK/France-led MMM declared; Australia E-7A; "when conditions allow"OUTCOME DELIVERED
LebanonMay 14-15 talks confirmedConfirmed: Karam/Dermer delegations; Washington; 13 killed May 12 despite ceasefireACTIVE + CASUALTIES
CPI / inflation3.8% annual (highest since May 2023)Confirmed — WaPo: "Iran war fuels sharpest inflation spike in nearly three years"CONFIRMED
Approval65% disapprove economy; 76% disapprove cost of living; 23% approve CoL (ABC/WaPo/Ipsos)NEW — POLLING DATA

2. Strait Operational Status — TRANSIT 18/DAY (MAY 11); MMM DECLARED BUT NOT DEPLOYED

ParameterC74C75Δ
IRGC postureGhalibaf: "ready for all options"Confirmed; Iran asserts sovereignty over Hormuz; demands end to US blockadeCONFIRMED
Transit count5-6 ships/day (May 3-4 data)May 11: 18 vessels (8 inbound, 10 outbound) — slight uptick from 5-6UPTICK — 18 VS 5-6
Vessels stuck in Gulf1,550 total; 22,500 marinersConfirmed (Wikipedia/CENTCOM)CONFIRMED
Project FreedomSuspended May 6; restart option tied to China tripPaused during state visit; restart decision May 15-16TIED TO TRIP
Multinational Mission40-nation meeting in sessionMMM declared: UK/France-led, "strictly defensive," "when conditions allow"; Australia E-7A; no minesweepingNEW — FRAMEWORK BUT NOT DEPLOYED
P&I absenceDay 74+ zeroDay 75+ zero
Insurance premiums1-2.5% hull; $3-8M per transitEdging up to 5% of hull value ($5M for $100M hull); 8x pre-war even after easingHIGHER END — 5% CITED
Traffic vs pre-war~4% (5-6 vs 138/day)May 11 data: 18/day = ~13% of 138; improvement but still deeply disruptedSLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IF 18/DAY HOLDS

3. Tanker Attacks Log — RUNNING TOTAL

DateVessel/TargetFlag/AffiliationLocationDamageCasualtiesΔ
(No new attacks confirmed in C74→C75 overnight cycle)NONE
Running totals from C74 confirmed. Commercial: 80+. UKMTO: 41+. Key May incidents confirmed: HMM Namu explosion May 4; CMA CGM San Antonio cruise missile May 5 (8 injured); ADNOC VLCC 2 drones May 4; US disabled 2 Iranian tankers May 8; Iran seized Ocean Koi May 8. No new incidents this cycle.

4. Oil Prices — BRENT $107.05 (−0.67%); WTI $102.18; PARTIAL CORRECTION FROM C74 SURGE

BenchmarkC74C75Pre-warPeakΔ
Brent$108.05-110.43 (intraday +5.2%)$107.05 (−0.67% from close)~$64$119-126 (Mar 8)PULLED BACK — PARTIAL CORRECTION
WTI$101.87$102.18 (settled May 12 close; +4.2% on day)~$60~$116HOLDING ABOVE $100
War premium~$46-48/bbl~$45-47/bbl (slightly eased with pullback)MARGINAL EASING
Peak retest gap~90-92% ($9-16 gap)~89% ($12-19 gap Brent)SLIGHTLY WIDER
YoY change+68.75% (Fortune)+62% (Trading Economics)CONFIRMED RANGE
EIA forecastBrent ~$106/b May-June; inventories to fall 8.5M b/d in Q2NEW — INSTITUTIONAL
Aramco warningMarket losing ~100M bbl/week; normalization may wait until 2027CONFIRMED
US gas$4.50/gal (+44% YoY)Confirmed — up >$1.50 since war beganCONFIRMED
Wall StreetS&P -0.6%; Nasdaq -0.9-2%; Dow -288Prior session confirmedSTALE (awaiting May 13 close)

5. SPR — 20% OF GLOBAL RESERVES DEPLOYED; 80M BBL US LOANS + 53.3M NEW

ParameterC74C75Δ
US SPR pipeline~70.8M bbl (17.5 delivered + 53.3 loan)~80M bbl loaned in spring + 53.3M new = total pipeline expanding; 172M authorizedSCALE CLARIFIED
IEA global reserves400M bbl, 32 nations~20% of available strategic reserves released to date (IEA)NEW — DEPLETION BENCHMARK
EIA inventory drawGlobal oil inventories to fall 8.5M b/d in Q2 2026NEW — STRUCTURAL DEFICIT CONFIRMED
Aramco CEO warningMid-June decision point; 2027 normalization"Market losing ~100M bbl/week"; prolonged disruptions → 2027CONFIRMED
DFC reinsurance$40B (7 insurers)ConfirmedCONFIRMED
SPR loan structureExchange loans; companies must repay with premiums9 companies (Exxon, Trafigura, Marathon); 58% of 92.5M acceptedCONFIRMED

6. Bypass Infrastructure — YANBU 3.66-4 MMbpd; ADCOP 71%; UNCHANGED

RouteCapacityUtilizationStatusΔ vs C74
Saudi E-W Pipeline7 mb/d nameplate3.66-4.0 MMbpd (mid-May)Port constraints; +21% Red Sea exportsCONFIRMED
UAE ADCOP1.8 mb/d71%; 440K bpd spareFujairah drone riskCONFIRMED
Kirkuk-Ceyhan1.6 mb/d~200-650K bpd potentialHALTED (politics)CONFIRMED
Iraq Basra-Haditha2.25-2.5 mb/d0 (started May 4)Early flows late 2026CONFIRMED
COMBINED realized~5.5-6.2 mb/d40% of deficit offsetCONFIRMED
GAP~6-7 mb/d net (after bypass)~6-7 mb/d net; ENR: "not sized for this"CONFIRMED

7. Maritime Insurance — P&I DAY 75+; PREMIUMS EDGING TO 5% OF HULL VALUE

ParameterC74C75Δ
P&I re-entryDay 74+ zeroDay 75+ zero
War risk premium1-2.5% hull (successful); 3-8% higher riskEdging up to 5% of hull value ($5M for $100M hull); 8x pre-war even after easingHIGHER END CONFIRMED — 5% CITED
VLCC day rates$440-800K/dayConfirmed ATH bandCONFIRMED
Transit cost stack$6-10M per Hormuz transit (April data)ConfirmedCONFIRMED
Strait reopening impactCosts won't normalize quickly (Khaleej Times)"Insurers demand months of sustained stability before restoring normal cover"CONFIRMED
JMIC ratingCRITICAL (May 5)ConfirmedCONFIRMED
Multinational mission impactMMM declared but "when conditions allow" — no impact on insurance until deploymentNEW — NO NEAR-TERM CHANGE

8. Shadow Fleet & Sanctions

ItemStatusΔ vs C74
Shadow fleet430 tankers; 62% falsely flagged; 87% sanctionedCONFIRMED
CENTCOM blockade70+ vessels stoppedCONFIRMED
OFAC total180+ vessels; 875+ persons/vessels/aircraft in 2025 campaignCONFIRMED
Economic Fury (Apr 24)Hengli + 19 vessels + 40 entitiesCONFIRMED
Treasury sb0405Iran shadow fleet + weapons procurement networksCONFIRMED
Ocean Koi seizure (May 8)Iran seized Barbados-flagged LR1; previously cycled 10+ names/flags since 2018CONFIRMED
US disabled 2 Iranian tankers (May 8)Exchanged fire overnight; tankers evading blockadeCONFIRMED
New sanctions targeting China oil linkTrump admin targeting Iranian oil sales to China (MS.NOW/NBC)NEW — CHINA-LINK SANCTIONS

9. Country Response Matrix — C75 UPDATE

CountryStatusSignalΔ vs C74
USTrump in BeijingIN CHINA. "I don't think about Americans' financial situation." Nuclear > economics. 65% disapprove economy; 76% disapprove CoL.ARRIVED + STATEMENT + POLLING
ChinaSummit hostHosting Trump May 13-15. Sources 60% crude via Hormuz. Pre-positioned by pressing Iran. Xi holds leverage (rare earths + Iran channels).SUMMIT ACTIVE
IsraelConcerned re deal"Concerned Trump may strike agreement before addressing key issues" — i.e., fears Trump cuts deal that doesn't dismantle Iran nuclear.NEW — ISRAEL ANXIETY
IranCounter-proposal rejectedDemands: sovereignty over Hormuz, compensation, sanctions lift, frozen assets, no nuclear upfront. Included Lebanon linkage.CONFIRMED
UKCoalition co-leadMMM declared. HMS Dragon en route. Healey co-chaired meeting.OUTCOME DELIVERED
FranceAspides + co-lead"A dozen ships"; CDG; Vautrin co-chaired.OUTCOME DELIVERED
AustraliaNew commitmentE-7A Wedgetail for Hormuz MMM. "Strictly defensive." First new country commitment named.NEW
IndiaMost vulnerablePolice at fuel stations; menus shortened; ISPRL 9 days; tax cuts ₹70B/2wkCONFIRMED
Japan254 days; 80M bbl releaseStagflation; ¥300B/monthCONFIRMED
South Korea208 days; fuel capKorean Air "emergency mode"; nuclear 80%CONFIRMED
SE AsiaCascadePhilippines 4-day week; Thailand WFH; Myanmar alternating driving; Pakistan 4-day/50% WFH; Sri Lanka QR rationingCONFIRMED
LebanonTalks May 14-15Karam/Dermer delegations; Washington; 13 killed May 12 despite ceasefire; Hezbollah opposes direct talksACTIVE + CASUALTIES

10. Policy Log (C75 additions — May 13 morning)


11. Key Metrics Dashboard — C75

MetricValueTrendSignalC75 Δ
Conflict day75+1
Ceasefire day (Iran-US)36+1
Ceasefire status"MASSIVE LIFE SUPPORT" — TRUMP IN BEIJING — 48-HOUR PAUSE ACTIVECombat resumption paused during state visitWINDOW OPEN
Trump postureIN BEIJING. "I DON'T THINK ABOUT AMERICANS' FINANCIAL SITUATION." NUCLEAR > ECONOMICS.↓ (political)Domestic detachment signalNEW — STATEMENT
Trump approval65% DISAPPROVE ECONOMY; 76% DISAPPROVE COST OF LIVING↓↓Deepening domestic oppositionNEW — POLLING
Iran rhetoricSOVEREIGNTY OVER HORMUZ; COMPENSATION; SANCTIONS LIFT; NO NUCLEAR UPFRONT; LEBANON LINKAGENo new signalCONFIRMED
Brent crude$107.05 (−0.67%)↓ (correction)Partial pullback from $110.43 intradayCORRECTED
WTI$102.18 (settled May 12)Holding above $100CONFIRMED
War premium~$45-47/bblMarginal easingSLIGHT
$119-126 peak retest~89% ($12-19 gap Brent)↓ (correction)Slightly wider after pullbackEASED
EIA forecastBRENT ~$106/B MAY-JUNE; INVENTORIES −8.5M B/D Q2Institutional confirmation of deficitNEW
CPI3.8% ANNUAL — HIGHEST SINCE MAY 2023ConfirmedCONFIRMED
US gas$4.50/GAL (+44% YoY); UP >$1.50 SINCE WARConfirmedCONFIRMED
US consumer hit$37BN TOTAL — $284/HOUSEHOLDWorseningCONFIRMED
IEA reserves deployed~20% OF AVAILABLE STRATEGIC RESERVESDepletion benchmarkNEW
SPR pipeline~80M BBL LOANED (SPRING) + 53.3M NEW; 172M AUTHORIZEDExpandingCONFIRMED
Aramco warningLOSING ~100M BBL/WEEK; 2027 IF BEYOND MID-JUNE4 weeks to mid-JuneCONFIRMED
Strait transits18/DAY (MAY 11) VS 5-6 (MAY 3-4) VS 138 PRE-WAR↑?Possible uptick — verify next cycleUPTICK IF HOLDS
Tankers stuck1,550 TOTAL; 22,500 MARINERSConfirmedCONFIRMED
P&I insuranceDAY 75+ ZEROStrongest absence signal
Insurance premium highEDGING TO 5% HULL VALUE ($5M/$100M HULL)Higher end confirmed5% CITED
VLCC rates$440-800K/DAYATH bandCONFIRMED
Bypass realized~5.5-6.2 MB/D40% offsetCONFIRMED
Supply gap6-7 MB/D NET; 8.5M B/D Q2 DRAW (EIA)ConfirmedEIA CONFIRMATION
Trump in BeijingARRIVED MAY 13 — STATE VISIT THROUGH MAY 15↑↑↑48-hour window openACTIVE
40-nation MMMDECLARED: UK/FRANCE-LED; AUSTRALIA E-7A; "WHEN CONDITIONS ALLOW"Framework exists, not deployedNEW
China pre-summitWang Yi → Araghchi; pressed IranSummit ACTIVE — outcomes May 14-15IN PROGRESS
Lebanon talksMAY 14-15 WASHINGTON — KARAM/DERMER; 13 KILLED MAY 12Concurrent with Beijing summitCONFIRMED
Israel anxietyCONCERNED TRUMP MAY CUT DEAL BEFORE ADDRESSING "KEY ISSUES"Nuclear deal fearNEW
Iran casualties (MoH)3,468 / 26,500+ injuredSTALESTALE
Dual chokepointHormuz + Red SeaBoth disruptedCONFIRMED
Qatar LNGForce majeure; Ras Laffan 17% capacity loss; 3-5yr repairEngineering-boundCONFIRMED
SE Asia crisisCascade + WFH universal; rationingDeepeningCONFIRMED

12. Convergence Assessment

What Changed This Cycle (C74→C75)

  1. Trump landed in Beijing. The 48-hour window identified in C74 is now active. The state visit runs May 13-15, during which combat resumption is functionally impossible. The key bilateral meetings are May 14 — the same day as the Lebanon talks in Washington. Trump brought Musk and Cook, signaling this is as much a trade visit as a geopolitical one. China sources ~60% of crude through Hormuz, making Xi's motivation structural, not just diplomatic. The question from C74 remains: does Xi offer something tangible on Iran (pressure for reopening, nuclear concessions framework) in exchange for trade/Taiwan concessions, or is this atmospherics only?
  1. Trump's "I don't think about Americans' financial situation" statement is the most politically significant development of C75. It explicitly decouples his Iran decision calculus from the domestic economic pain that C74 identified as the closed feedback loop (oil → CPI 3.8% → consumer burden → political pressure). By publicly stating nuclear considerations override economic ones, Trump is: (a) signaling to Xi that economic leverage (oil price, rare earths) will not force concessions on nuclear terms; (b) signaling to Iran that the pain at the pump will not drive him to accept a bad deal; (c) creating massive domestic political vulnerability — 76% disapprove his cost of living handling, and he just told them he doesn't care. The statement is either genuine strategic communication or a negotiating posture. Either way, it restructures the probability space: if Trump genuinely prioritizes nuclear over economics, Path B (full kinetic, to force nuclear compliance) becomes more likely. If it's posturing for Xi, it's a high-stakes bluff that burns domestic capital.
  1. The 40-nation meeting produced a framework but not a deployment. The UK/France-led Multinational Military Mission is "strictly defensive" and operational "when conditions allow" — meaning it awaits a political condition (ceasefire solidification, deal framework) before deploying. Australia's E-7A Wedgetail is the first named national contribution beyond UK and France. The MMM is significant as institutional architecture: it means if a deal produces "conditions" for reopening, there is already a command structure, a UK/France co-leadership, and 40+ nations committed to participation. But it does nothing for the immediate insurance lock, P&I absence, or transit numbers. It is infrastructure for a future that hasn't arrived yet.
  1. Brent's pullback to $107.05 (−0.67%) is a partial correction from C74's $110.43 surge, not a trend reversal. The EIA forecasts Brent at ~$106/b through May-June with global inventories falling 8.5 million b/d in Q2 — confirming the structural deficit. Aramco's Nasser says the market is losing ~100M barrels per week. The correction may reflect: (a) profit-taking after the $110 intraday spike, (b) faint hope that Trump-Xi produces something, or (c) market digestion of the surge. The $106 EIA floor suggests limited downside without a diplomatic breakthrough.
  1. Strait transit data shows a possible uptick: 18 vessels on May 11 vs 5-6 on May 3-4. This needs verification over multiple days before upgrading. It could reflect: (a) PGSA (Iran's yuan-based safe passage) processing more ships, (b) residual Project Freedom corridor, or (c) statistical noise. Even at 18/day, this is ~13% of the pre-war 138/day average — still deeply disrupted.
  1. Insurance premiums are being cited at the higher end of the range. Al Jazeera notes premiums "edging up to 5% of hull value" — $5M for a $100M hull. This is double the 1-2.5% "successful transit" range from earlier cycles. The 40-nation MMM declaration has zero near-term impact on insurance — insurers require months of sustained stability, not defense-minister communiques.

Structural Conditions — 11 Locks

Condition 1 — Price LockBRENT $107.05 (−0.67% CORRECTION); WTI $102.18. EIA: $106/B MAY-JUNE; INVENTORIES −8.5M B/D Q2. The partial correction from C74's $110 surge does not alter the structural picture. EIA's institutional forecast confirms Brent stays above $100 through at least June. Aramco: 100M bbl/week being lost. The price lock is eased fractionally by the pullback but reinforced by the EIA deficit forecast. Lock status: CONFIRMED — CORRECTION WITHIN STRUCTURAL ELEVATION; EIA FLOOR ~$106.

Condition 2 — Supply Lock14 MB/D OFFLINE; BYPASS ~5.5-6.2 MB/D; NET GAP 6-7 MB/D; EIA: 8.5M B/D Q2 DRAW. IEA confirms 20% of strategic reserves deployed. At this rate, reserve exhaustion becomes a mid-2026 concern. Aramco's 2027 normalization and mid-June decision point = 4 weeks. Lock status: CONFIRMED — EIA INSTITUTIONAL CONFIRMATION OF STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.

Condition 3 — Insurance LockP&I DAY 75+. PREMIUMS EDGING TO 5% OF HULL. MMM DECLARED BUT NOT DEPLOYED. The 40-nation MMM creates a framework for eventual reopening support but changes nothing now. Insurers require months of stability. Even reopening won't normalize costs (Khaleej Times). Lock status: CONFIRMED — MMM IS FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT PRESENT RELIEF.

Condition 4 — Labor Lock22,500 SEAFARERS TRAPPED. FLEET ATTRITION ONGOING. Day 75. Lock status: CONFIRMED.

Condition 5 — Duration LockTRUMP IN BEIJING. 48-HOUR PAUSE. POST-TRIP DECISION MAY 15-16. The duration lock now has its clearest timing structure: Xi bilateral May 14, Lebanon talks May 14-15, Trump returns ~May 15-16. If Beijing produces a framework, duration lock may begin loosening. If not, the post-trip window is the earliest combat resumption decision point. Trump's "I don't think about financial situation" suggests he won't be hurried by economic pain into accepting suboptimal terms — extending the timeline. Lock status: TIGHTENING IF NO BREAKTHROUGH; COULD LOOSEN IF XI DELIVERS.

Condition 6 — Nuclear LockTRUMP: "THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS — THEY CAN'T HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON." Nuclear is now explicitly Trump's stated top priority over economics. Israel "concerned Trump may cut deal before addressing key issues" — but Trump's statement suggests the opposite: he's willing to endure economic pain to prevent nuclear capability. This aligns Path B (kinetic destruction of nuclear infrastructure) more closely with Trump's stated calculus. Lock status: ELEVATED — TRUMP EXPLICITLY PRIORITIZES NUCLEAR; ISRAEL FEARS DEAL, TRUMP FEARS NO-DEAL-ON-NUCLEAR.

Condition 7 — Geographic Lock4 FRONTS + BEIJING SUMMIT + WASHINGTON LEBANON TALKS + MMM. Diplomatic geography now spans: Trump in Beijing, Karam/Dermer in Washington, UK/France MMM coordination, IRGC in the Gulf, Hezbollah in Lebanon (13 killed despite ceasefire). Lock status: CONFIRMED — MAXIMUM DIPLOMATIC DISPERSION.

Condition 8 — Capability LockMMM DECLARED: UK/FRANCE-LED, AUSTRALIA E-7A, 40+ NATIONS. BUT "WHEN CONDITIONS ALLOW." The capability lock is partially loosening on paper — there is now a declared multinational framework with named contributors. But no minesweeping, no deployment date, no ROE for opposed transit. Lock status: PARTIALLY LOOSENING — FRAMEWORK EXISTS; DEPLOYMENT CONDITIONAL.

Condition 9 — Dual Chokepoint LockHORMUZ + RED SEA BOTH DISRUPTED. No change. Houthis resumed after Feb 28. Red Sea at 49% pre-crisis capacity. Lock status: CONFIRMED.

Condition 10 — Leadership LockTRUMP IN BEIJING; GHALIBAF COUNTER-ESCALATING; XI HOSTING. NETANYAHU ANXIOUS. The trilateral dimension from C74 is now active, not projected. Israel's concern about Trump cutting a deal before "key issues" adds a fourth actor's anxiety to the leadership dynamics. Lock status: ACTIVE TRILATERAL + ISRAEL FOURTH-PARTY ANXIETY.

Condition 11 — Energy Infrastructure LockRAS LAFFAN 17% CAPACITY LOSS, 3-5YR REPAIR; SOUTH PARS DUAL STRIKE; BUSHEHR. No new strikes. Lock status: CONFIRMED — ENGINEERING-BOUND.


Critical Watch (C76 triggers)

  1. Trump-Xi bilateral (May 14). Does Xi offer tangible Iran pressure? Trade/Taiwan concessions? Rare earth deal? Or atmospherics only?
  2. Lebanon talks (May 14-15). Karam/Dermer. Does it produce withdrawal framework? Or collapse (Hezbollah opposes)?
  3. Post-Trump statement fallout. "I don't think about Americans' financial situation" — domestic political reaction. Congressional response? Polling movement?
  4. Brent direction. Does $107 hold as floor (EIA $106 forecast) or does Trump-Xi optimism push below? Or does stalled talks push back toward $110+?
  5. Transit data. Does 18/day (May 11) hold, or was it anomalous? Next data point critical for Strait operational assessment.
  6. MMM deployment timeline. 40-nation meeting declared framework — when does "conditions allow" get defined? ROE? Minesweeping?
  7. Iran's response to Trump's nuclear-first framing. Tehran hears "I don't care about economics, I care about nuclear." Does this harden or soften their position?
  8. New sanctions targeting Iran-China oil link. Announced as Trump arrives in Beijing. Provocative timing. Xi's reaction?
  9. SPR delivery pace. 20% of reserves deployed globally. Q2 draw 8.5M b/d. When does depletion become binding?
  10. Israel-Iran dynamic. Netanyahu "concerned" about deal. Does Israel signal conditions for accepting any Trump-Xi-brokered framework?

Net Assessment

C75 is the cycle where the 48-hour window opens. Trump is in Beijing. The 40-nation coalition has declared a military mission framework. Brent has pulled back from C74's $110 surge to $107. The structural picture is unchanged — 11 locks hold — but the next 48 hours contain more diplomatic potential energy than any comparable period since the ceasefire began on April 8.

Trump's "I don't think about Americans' financial situation" statement is the most important signal of C75 — not for what it says about Americans (76% already disapprove his cost of living handling), but for what it tells Xi, Iran, and Israel about Trump's negotiating calculus. By explicitly subordinating economics to nuclear non-proliferation, Trump has narrowed his own acceptable outcome space. He cannot now accept a deal that delivers Hormuz reopening but defers nuclear constraints without appearing to have capitulated on his stated priority. This constrains Xi's ability to broker a partial deal: any framework must include credible nuclear language, not just maritime reopening.

For Xi, the calculus is: (a) China needs Hormuz open (~60% of crude), (b) Trump needs something to show from the trip, (c) Xi can offer diplomatic pressure on Iran but not compliance, (d) the rare earth leverage gives Xi a card on the military side. The most likely summit outcome is a joint statement with language about "working together" on Iran/Hormuz, plus concrete trade deals (food, aircraft), plus a quiet understanding on diplomatic sequencing — not a breakthrough. Time's assessment ("set up to fail") captures the consensus.

The MMM is significant as architecture — it means the international community has moved from consultation to declared intent. But "when conditions allow" is the tell: nobody is forcing Hormuz open militarily without a political framework. The MMM is infrastructure for the day after a deal, not a substitute for one.

The Brent pullback to $107 from $110 is noise within the structural range. EIA's $106/b forecast and 8.5M b/d inventory draw in Q2 confirm the floor. Without a deal, oil stays above $100 indefinitely. With a deal that includes credible reopening, $85-90 is possible within weeks. The gap between those scenarios is the entire war premium.

The Lebanon talks running concurrently with the Beijing summit create an interesting dynamic: if Karam and Dermer produce a withdrawal framework while Trump is with Xi, it gives Trump a "progress" narrative to bring to the Iran conversation. If they stall (Hezbollah opposes), the multi-front pressure compounds.

Revised probability distribution (C75):


Note: Path B now leads at 31%, the first time full kinetic has been the single most probable outcome. Trump's nuclear-first statement + post-trip decision window + ceasefire erosion drive this shift. The 48-hour Beijing window is the last major de-escalation opportunity before the probability distribution hardens toward B.

Risk level: EXTREME — CRITICAL — TRUMP IN BEIJING (STATE VISIT MAY 13-15) — 48-HOUR WINDOW ACTIVE; "I DON'T THINK ABOUT AMERICANS' FINANCIAL SITUATION" — NUCLEAR > ECONOMICS; 76% DISAPPROVE COST OF LIVING; BRENT $107.05 (PARTIAL CORRECTION FROM $110.43); EIA: $106/B MAY-JUNE, INVENTORIES −8.5M B/D Q2; 40-NATION MMM DECLARED (UK/FRANCE-LED, AUSTRALIA E-7A, "WHEN CONDITIONS ALLOW"); LEBANON TALKS MAY 14-15 (KARAM/DERMER); IEA: 20% OF STRATEGIC RESERVES DEPLOYED; ARAMCO: LOSING 100M BBL/WEEK; PATH B (FULL KINETIC) NOW LEADS AT 31% — FIRST TIME SINGLE MOST PROBABLE; POST-TRIP DECISION WINDOW MAY 15-16; INSURANCE EDGING TO 5% HULL VALUE; DAY 75 / CEASEFIRE DAY 36 — BEIJING WINDOW IS THE LAST MAJOR DE-ESCALATION OPPORTUNITY BEFORE PROBABILITY HARDENS TOWARD B


Sources (C75 new)

Trump in Beijing / China Summit

Trump Statement / Approval

40-Nation Meeting / MMM

Oil Prices / Markets

SPR / Reserves

Ceasefire / Negotiations

Strait Operations / Insurance

Lebanon

Shadow Fleet / Sanctions

Country Response / Asia


Run completed 2026-05-13 morning (Day 75). Scheduled cron run — terminal substrate. Grok bridge: NO — Apple Notes timed out x2, full 13-topic sweep. Baseline C74 (2026-05-12-c2.md) → C75 delta. Key C75 deltas: (1) Trump arrived in Beijing — state visit May 13-15 — 48-hour window now active. (2) Trump: "I don't think about Americans' financial situation" — nuclear > economics; 76% disapprove CoL. (3) 40-nation MMM declared: UK/France-led, "strictly defensive," "when conditions allow"; Australia E-7A Wedgetail first named contribution. (4) Brent pulled back to $107.05 (−0.67%) — partial correction from $110.43; EIA: $106/b May-June, inventories −8.5M b/d Q2. (5) IEA: ~20% of strategic reserves deployed globally. (6) Aramco: losing ~100M bbl/week; 2027 normalization. (7) Lebanon talks confirmed May 14-15 (Karam/Dermer); 13 killed May 12; Hezbollah opposes. (8) Insurance edging to 5% hull value. (9) Transit uptick: 18/day May 11 (needs verification). (10) New sanctions targeting Iran-China oil link as Trump arrives in Beijing. Path: B 31% (+1%, NOW LEADS — FIRST TIME), D+ 29% (−1%), A' 21% (+1%), E 8%, C 6% (−1%), F 5%. C75 frame: 48-HOUR BEIJING WINDOW IS THE LAST MAJOR DE-ESCALATION OPPORTUNITY BEFORE PROBABILITY HARDENS TOWARD PATH B. Risk: EXTREME — CRITICAL.

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