TOH edition: Sunday, 20 September 2026 · Peace & Progress
As the Gulf Braced for Another Oil Shock, Saudi Arabia Asked China to Talk Iran Down — and China Did
Reported by Reuters
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Reuters reported on 17 September that China, after an appeal from Riyadh, privately pressed Tehran to help rein in the Houthis as attacks threatened Gulf energy routes. Alongside it, Saudi exports have been rerouted around the blockaded Strait of Hormuz and crude prices eased on hopes the disruption stays limited.
The feared outcome of this conflict for most people is a global fuel shock. Quiet diplomacy by the one country with real leverage over Tehran, plus improvised export routes, are pushing against that outcome right now.
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