Trump Claims Seized Iran-Bound Ship Holds 'Gifts from China'; Beijing Deflects Questions
President Trump alleged an intercepted Iranian ship originating from China carried military-use 'gifts'. The Chinese Foreign Ministry avoided direct answers, maintaining it fulfills international obligations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 20:46
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 21:02 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 10:28 (13h 26m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter, Taipei, 22nd) The Touska, a container ship sailing from China to Iran, was seized by the U.S. military. In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion yesterday that the ship carried "gifts from China" that were "not very friendly," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun claimed today that China consistently acts as a "model" in fulfilling its international obligations. However, he still refused to answer what exactly the Touska was carrying.
According to Jiemian News, the Chinese Foreign Ministry held a regular press briefing this afternoon. Foreign media asked Guo to respond to Trump's "gifts from China" comment and demanded he answer "what items the Iranian-flagged cargo ship departing from China was carrying."
Guo merely claimed that China has repeatedly clarified its stance and wished to reiterate that as a "responsible major country," China has consistently "acted as a model" in fulfilling its international obligations.
During an exclusive interview with financial media CNBC on the 21st (U.S. Eastern Time), Donald Trump stated that Tehran was trying to replenish its military supplies during the ceasefire. He pointedly remarked that the ship intercepted by the U.S. military (the Touska) carried "gifts from China" and that its contents were "not very friendly."
In the interview, Trump also admitted, "I am a little surprised," because he thought he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reached a "consensus" (regarding the Iran issue).
The Wall Street Journal reported on the 20th that the Touska is operated by Rahbaran Omid Darya, a subsidiary of the Iranian state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). It has frequently traveled between China and Iran and sailed to the Zhuhai Port in Guangdong twice in March this year. On its way back to Iran from the Zhuhai Port in late March, it was seized by the U.S. military in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, on April 19.
The report noted that IRISL is a company sanctioned by the U.S. on grounds of transporting dual-use military materials to Iran. In 2025, Rahbaran Omid Darya allegedly used two other container ships in its fleet to transport 1,000 tons of raw materials from China for Iran's medium-range missile solid propellants.
A Reuters report on the 21st cited an anonymous maritime security source stating that the Touska very likely carried "civil-military dual-use materials recognized by Washington as usable by the military," and that this container ship had previously transported such dual-use items. (Editors: Qiu Guo-qiang / Yang Sheng-ru) 1150422
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(CNA Reporter, Taipei, 22nd) The Touska, a container ship sailing from China to Iran, was seized by the U.S. military. In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion yesterday that the ship carried "gifts from China" that were "not very friendly," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun claimed today that China consistently acts as a "model" in fulfilling its international obligations. However, he still refused to answer what exactly the Touska was carrying.
According to Jiemian News, the Chinese Foreign Ministry held a regular press briefing this afternoon. Foreign media asked Guo to respond to Trump's "gifts from China" comment and demanded he answer "what items the Iranian-flagged cargo ship departing from China was carrying."
Guo merely claimed that China has repeatedly clarified its stance and wished to reiterate that as a "responsible major country," China has consistently "acted as a model" in fulfilling its international obligations.
During an exclusive interview with financial media CNBC on the 21st (U.S. Eastern Time), Donald Trump stated that Tehran was trying to replenish its military supplies during the ceasefire. He pointedly remarked that the ship intercepted by the U.S. military (the Touska) carried "gifts from China" and that its contents were "not very friendly."
In the interview, Trump also admitted, "I am a little surprised," because he thought he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reached a "consensus" (regarding the Iran issue).
The Wall Street Journal reported on the 20th that the Touska is operated by Rahbaran Omid Darya, a subsidiary of the Iranian state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). It has frequently traveled between China and Iran and sailed to the Zhuhai Port in Guangdong twice in March this year. On its way back to Iran from the Zhuhai Port in late March, it was seized by the U.S. military in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, on April 19.
The report noted that IRISL is a company sanctioned by the U.S. on grounds of transporting dual-use military materials to Iran. In 2025, Rahbaran Omid Darya allegedly used two other container ships in its fleet to transport 1,000 tons of raw materials from China for Iran's medium-range missile solid propellants.
A Reuters report on the 21st cited an anonymous maritime security source stating that the Touska very likely carried "civil-military dual-use materials recognized by Washington as usable by the military," and that this container ship had previously transported such dual-use items. (Editors: Qiu Guo-qiang / Yang Sheng-ru) 1150422
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship of yours is a power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.