Bangladesh, Oct. 2 -- The past week marked an unusually concentrated period of American diplomacy across the Middle East, bringing together Gulf Arab states, regional governments, China and the wider international community at a moment when the war with Iran continues to disrupt one of the worlds most important energy corridors.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Donald Trump met representatives from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states, as well as Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkiye. The meeting came while the Strait of Hormuz remained closed to normal commercial traffic, leaving global energy markets exposed to continued disruption.

The following day, Trump hosted Chinese Pres...