{"id":6289,"date":"2026-04-23T05:38:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T02:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fajr.news\/?p=6289"},"modified":"2026-04-23T05:38:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T02:08:19","slug":"china-rejects-baseless-us-claims-on-ship-intercepted-in-gulf-of-oman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fajr.news\/?p=6289&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"China Rejects Baseless US Claims on Ship Intercepted in Gulf of Oman"},"content":{"rendered":"
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China Rejects Baseless US Claims on Ship Intercepted in Gulf of Oman<\/h1>\n

Beijing firmly denied allegations by the United States that a ship intercepted in the Gulf of Oman was carrying a “gift” from China to Iran, dismissing the accusations as malicious speculation.<\/strong> This strong rebuttal came a day after US President Donald Trump made the unfounded claim, further escalating tensions in the region.<\/p>\n

President Trump had asserted that an Iranian-flagged vessel, seized by US forces in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday, contained “a gift from China” which he described as “not very nice.” These provocative remarks followed earlier accusations by former US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who on X (formerly Twitter) linked the ship, reportedly traveling from China to Iran, to alleged chemical shipments for missiles.<\/p>\n

In response to Haley’s initial claims, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on Tuesday that the vessel was merely “a foreign container ship” and emphasized China’s strong opposition to “any malicious association and speculation.” Reaffirming Beijing’s stance on Wednesday, Guo reiterated that China, as a responsible major country, consistently upholds its international obligations.<\/p>\n

Trump’s comments also expressed “surprise,” suggesting a perceived “understanding” with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A week prior, Trump had claimed that President Xi assured him there would be no Chinese weapons deliveries to Iran. However, China, a close strategic partner of Tehran, has consistently condemned US-Israeli strikes on Iran as illegal and has advocated for the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz, while also criticizing attacks on Gulf countries.<\/p>\n

The seized vessel, identified as the Touska, was reportedly en route to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday. CENTCOM further detailed that the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance fired several rounds from a five-inch calibre gun to disable the Iranian ship’s propulsion after directing its crew to evacuate the engine room \u2013 an act that raises serious questions about international maritime law and freedom of navigation.<\/p>\n

This incident unfolds amidst heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global conduit for oil and liquefied natural gas, which has largely remained closed since the onset of the Middle East conflict. While Iran briefly reopened the strait last Friday in a gesture of goodwill following an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, it was compelled to close it again the very next day due to the US maintaining its illegal blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports, further exacerbating humanitarian and economic pressures on the Iranian nation.<\/p>\n