The US said it fired on and seized ​an Iranian cargo ship that tried ​to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. ⁠Iran’s military said the ship had been ​travelling from China and vowed retaliation against what ​it called “armed piracy by the US military.”

Trump on Tuesday told CNBC the ship “had some things on it, ​which wasn’t very nice. A gift from ​China perhaps, I don’t know.”

China’s foreign ministry rejected the ‌comments.

“China ⁠opposes any accusations and associations that lack a factual basis,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

“Normal international trade relations between countries ​should not ​be subject ⁠to interference and disruption,” he added.

The container ship Touska, which was boarded ​and seized by US forces on ​Sunday, ⁠is likely to have what Washington deems dual-use items that could be used by the ⁠military ​on board, maritime security ​sources said on Monday.