Oil is high, but Xi may have spared Trump more

In the midst of a protracted conflict between Iran and Israel, energy prices have remained volatile, with dire projections not yet materializing six months into the ongoing war. Chinese President Xi Jinping's strategic oil reserves, amassed over a decade, have helped cushion China from the impact of rising oil prices, according to U.S. energy analysts.

This has led some to speculate that the Chinese leader may be able to persuade his U.S. counterpart, President Donald Trump, to ease tensions with Iran during their upcoming state visit to Washington. However, the prospects of a breakthrough in resolving the conflict appear dim, as deep differences between the two nations' positions on Iran persist.