President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday that U.S. forces intercepted a ship allegedly carrying a "gift" from China to Iran, raising questions about his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking to CNBC's Squawk Box, Trump stated, "We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice—a gift from China perhaps." He expressed surprise, noting his "very good relationship" with Xi but added, "That’s the way war goes."
The incident occurred as U.S. forces seized an Iranian-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday. Trump previously confirmed that Marines "blew a hole in the engine room" after the ship refused to stop. Former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley claimed the vessel was linked to chemical shipments for Iranian missiles, though the Hudson Institute did not provide further details. China denied the allegations, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stating the seized vessel was a "foreign container ship" and rejecting "false association and speculation."
The interception comes amid ongoing tensions in the region, with Trump warning China against supplying air defense systems to Iran. The U.S. has been enforcing a blockade to prevent shipments to or from Iran. Trump is scheduled to meet Xi in Beijing in mid-May, though the timing remains uncertain as the Iran conflict persists.