Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Contributor/Getty Images Chinese President Xi Jinping has spent the Iran war doing what he does best — patiently exploiting America's distraction and discord. Why it matters: The conflict allowed China to bolster its diplomatic leverage, clean-energy muscle and intelligence on the U.S. military — all without firing a shot or spending a dollar. The implications touch supply chains, energy procurement, geopolitical risk, and the race for superior AI and weaponry. Even with progress toward a framework for peace between the U.S. and Iran, significant disruptions continue in the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic damage is done. The military impact is the part that should scare the hell out of Pentagon planners. The U.S. committed roughly 80% of its JASSM-ER stealth cruise missile inventory to the Iran fight, pulling stockpiles from the Pacific to feed it. The conflict significantly depleted U.S. supplies of Tomahawk and Patriot missiles, THAAD interceptors and drones.…