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President Donald Trump said the United States seized a ship on Monday that “had some things on it” that were “not very nice,” calling it a “gift from China.”He did not mention where the ship was being held, whether it was flying the Chinese flag, or what its cargo was.
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US forces storm sanctioned ship in Indo-Pacific; Trump says ‘China’s gift’ to Iran has been seized
“I was a little surprised, but because I have a very good relationship, and I thought I had an understanding with President Xi, but that’s okay, that’s how war goes, right?” Trump said in an interview on CNBC that aired earlier today.Trump brought up the incident while discussing tensions over Iran, saying his threat to bomb Iranian bridges would impact the country’s military operations as it transports missiles.
He also said Iran had likely “restocked a little” during the ceasefire that expires tomorrow.CNN reported last week that US intelligence indicated that China was preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks. Trump previously warned China against supplying weapons to Iran. “If China does that, China will have big problems, okay?” He said last week.China denied supplying Iran with air defense weapons and said it would take “countermeasures” if Trump used the claim as an “excuse” to impose additional 50% tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing next month.In the same interview with CNBC, Trump said he did not want to extend the ceasefire with Iran. “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have much time,” he said.He added that the United States is in a strong negotiating position and expects to reach a “big deal” with Iran. He also said, “I expect to bomb because that would be a better situation.”
