[Analyst: High Oil Prices May Ease U.S.-Iran Tensions] Odaily Planet Daily News - BCA Research analyst Felix Vezina-Poirier stated in a report that the surge in oil prices could prompt the United States and Iran to de-escalate the Middle East conflict. 'Both sides are willing to demonstrate strength, but neither wants to face the consequences of a larger-scale escalation.' As oil prices continue to climb, this may facilitate the resolution of the conflict. He noted, 'There is a risk of oil prices breaking out of the $70 to $90 per barrel "dynamic equilibrium" range, but such a surge itself would trigger a cooling mechanism.' (Jin10)