BEIJING – Chinese foreign ministry officials on Friday dismissed President Donald Trump’s suggestion that a recently seized Iranian cargo vessel contained materials provided by Beijing.
U.S. forces opened fire on and captured an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that attempted to bypass American enforcement of sanctions at Iranian ports. Iranian military officials confirmed the vessel had departed from China and promised to respond to what they characterized as “armed piracy by the U.S. military.”
During a Tuesday interview with CNBC, Trump suggested the intercepted ship “had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don’t know.”
Beijing’s foreign ministry dismissed those remarks during Friday’s briefing.
“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 cargo vessel Touska was boarded and captured by American forces on Sunday. Maritime security experts indicated Monday that the ship likely carried what U.S. officials consider dual-use materials that could potentially serve military purposes.
