IRAN WAR, A Power Struggle Between the US and China

The conflict surrounding Iran is part of a larger struggle in which the United States and China are the main players.
Iran and other countries in the region are operating within this global tension, where energy is one of the central weapons.
The key element is the Strait of Hormuz, a very narrow maritime passage through which a significant portion of the world's oil transported by ship passes.
If it is blocked or threatened, the market reacts instantly: oil and gas prices rise, and with some delay, the cost of energy, transportation, and many basic goods increase.
Asian economies, especially China, heavily depend on oil arriving from Gulf countries and passing through this strait.
This means that any tension in Hormuz is a direct risk to their growth, industry, and internal stability.
Additionally, China buys 90% of Iran's crude oil at a discount (see image 2)
For China, energy supply security is not a detail: it is a strategic issue.
The United States, on the other hand, has greatly reduced its vulnerability thanks to Venezuela (the largest country with crude reserves in the world). Moreover, it maintains influence over major producers like those in the Gulf. All of this gives it more room to maneuver when it comes to supporting or managing an energy crisis.
The problem is that a prolonged escalation in the region, with energy prices skyrocketing, would ultimately impact everyone: Asia, Europe, and also the United States through inflation.
That’s why, although the powers use tension as a tool of pressure, none can afford for the situation to get out of control for too long.