Xi Meets Lavrov, Energy Shortages Amid Iran War
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- Xi Jinping met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing on April 15, 2026.
- Sergei Lavrov said Moscow could compensate for China’s energy shortages as the Iran war chokes shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Rafael Grossi called for “very detailed” verification measures in any U.S.-Iran agreement to end the West Asia war.
- Donald Trump announced that a second round of U.S.-Iran talks could take place within two days, on April 14, 2026.
- Donald Trump reiterated his criticism of Pope Leo that night.
Why it matters: Russia’s pledge to offset China’s energy shortfalls could ease Beijing’s fuel crunch while the Iran‑war continues to choke the Hormuz Strait, underscoring the conflict’s ripple effects on global energy security. At the same time, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s demand for detailed nuclear verification and President Trump’s hint at renewed US‑Iran talks signal widening diplomatic pressure to resolve the war.
