In a sharp rebuttal, China has categorically rejected President Donald Trump’s speculation that a ‘gift’ from Beijing was aboard an Iranian ship detained by the U.S. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the statement during Friday’s briefing, insisting that unsubstantiated claims and rumors have no place in diplomacy.
The U.S. leader’s comments surfaced in a Tuesday interview, where he described the cargo as possibly originating from China, expressing astonishment given his rapport with Xi Jinping. The ship was halted in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.
Preceding this, Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the UN, alleged on X that the vessel carried missile components from China to Iran, signaling ongoing support for Tehran’s activities. China had previously voiced alarm over the interception, calling the strait a ‘complex and sensitive’ zone.
With global oil flows at stake—handling 20% of the world’s supply—the stakes are extraordinarily high. Beijing urged all sides to avoid provocative moves that could heighten tensions in West Asia. This exchange highlights deepening U.S.-China frictions amid broader geopolitical rivalries.
