China has rejected accusations by Donald Trump that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship intercepted by United States forces was a “gift from China”.

Speaking in Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the claim, saying: “China opposes any accusations and associations that lack a factual basis.”

U.S. Seizure of Iranian Vessel

The U.S. military said it had fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship attempting to evade its blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran condemned the move, describing it as “armed piracy” and warning of retaliation. Iranian officials said the vessel had been travelling from China at the time of the interception.

Trump Fuels Speculation

Earlier this week, Trump told CNBC that the ship “had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice”, adding it could be “a gift from China”.

His remarks triggered a swift response from Beijing, which denied any involvement and called for restraint in linking China to the incident without evidence.

Concerns Over Cargo Contents

The vessel, identified as the container ship Touska, was seized on Sunday. Maritime security sources said it may have been carrying so-called dual-use items goods that can have both civilian and military applications though details remain unclear.

China reiterated that normal international trade should not be disrupted, warning against interference in legitimate commercial activity.

(with inputs from Reuters)