Khaberni - The American President Donald Trump stated to "CNBC" that he believed there was an understanding with the Chinese President, but he "was surprised by China's support for Iran," considering what he described as "the Chinese gift to Tehran" in reference to a shipment found on board an Iranian ship that was detained, as not being a positive step with increasing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump's statements came days after American forces intercepted an Iranian cargo ship believed to be on a trade route passing through Chinese ports before being detained near the strait, in an incident reflecting the escalated American suspicions about Beijing's role in continuing supply flows to Tehran.
According to an American official who spoke to Fox News, the ship "Touska" was headed to Bandar Abbas port in Iran after leaving the Malaysian port of Klang on April 12, before being intercepted by American forces in the Gulf of Oman as it approached Iranian waters.
The official explained that the ship received repeated warnings for six hours to stop its course, but it ignored the orders, prompting the American destroyer "Spruance" to disable the propulsion system by targeting the engine room, before U.S. Marines boarded and took control of it without resistance.
In turn, Nikki Haley, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's first administration, revealed on the X platform the ship’s cargo and said: The ship that the United States seized this week in the Strait of Hormuz coming from China to Iran, was linked to chemical shipments for making missiles. It ignored repeated orders to stop.
She added "Another reminder that China is helping to support the Iranian regime and this is a fact that cannot be ignored."
The American forces are currently investigating the ship's cargo, which is suspected to contain dual-use materials, which can be exploited for civilian or military purposes.
Navigation data shows that the ship made several stops in the port of Zhuhai in southern China before crossing Southeast Asia towards Iran, a route that analysts say has helped Tehran maintain its maritime trade despite Western pressure.
Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight Maritime Transparency Initiative, said that the attempt to transit the ship amidst the presence of intense American military indicates the high importance of its cargo for Iran, adding that crossing areas near the Singapore Strait are known for ship-to-ship cargo transfer operations to disguise the origins of goods.
Escalating diplomatic tension
On its part, Beijing criticized the interception operation, warning of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz being "sensitive and complex," while it seeks to present itself as a diplomatic mediator in the crisis.
The detention of the ship is part of the American maritime pressure campaign aimed at forcing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations. However, the recent incident—with Trump’s remarks on Chinese support for Tehran—reflects an expansion of the confrontation into an international dimension that goes beyond the American-Iranian conflict to include a broader strategic competition between Washington and Beijing.
