China rejects Trump accusation that intercepted Iran ship was 'gift from China'

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April 24, 2026 3:54 AM EDT

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a healthcare affordability event in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper

BEIJING, April 24 (Reuters) - ‌China's foreign ​ministry ​on Friday rejected an accusation by U.S. President Donald Trump that ‌an Iranian-flagged cargo ship intercepted by U.S. ⁠forces was a "gift from China."

The U.S. said it fired ‌on and seized an ‌Iranian cargo ship that tried to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's military ​said the ship had been travelling from China and vowed retaliation against what ⁠it called "armed piracy by the U.S. military."

Trump on Tuesday told ​CNBC the ship "had some things on it, which wasn't very nice. A gift ​from China perhaps, I ‌don't know."

China's foreign ministry rejected the comments.

"China opposes any accusations and ⁠associations that lack a factual basis," ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

"Normal international trade ⁠relations between countries should not be subject to interference ​and disruption," he added.

The container ship Touska, which was boarded and seized by U.S. forces on Sunday, ‌is likely to have what Washington deems dual-use items that could ‌be used by the military on board, ⁠maritime security sources said ‌on Monday.

(Reporting by ​Joe Cash; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Maclean and Thomas ‌Derpinghaus)


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