U.S. President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran while suggesting China was operating behind the scenes. Trump claimed the U.S. military had intercepted a "gift from China" bound for Iran, triggering controversy. While China dismissed the claim as baseless, heightened tensions between the two countries are expected to cast a shadow over Trump's planned visit to Beijing.
Trump on Saturday described the Iranian government as "seriously fractured" in a post on Truth Social. He said he had agreed to suspend military operations against Iran at Pakistan's request. Trump said the ceasefire would remain in place until Iran's leadership and delegation present an agreed-upon proposal, while making clear that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would continue.
In a CNBC interview the same day, Trump suggested Iran had carried out some weapons restocking during the two-week ceasefire and that China may have helped Iran replenish its munitions. "We caught a ship yesterday, and it had some bad things on it," he said. "It was a gift from China."
The claim was first raised by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. "I'm not sure, but I was a little surprised," Trump added. "I thought I had some kind of agreement with President Xi Jinping, but that's okay. That's what war is."
Haley also wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the incident was "another reminder that China is backing the Iranian regime, and it's a reality we cannot ignore." On Thursday, Trump said the U.S. Navy, which had been blockading the Strait of Hormuz, had seized a vessel heading to an Iranian port.
China's Foreign Ministry denied the claims. "As far as I know, this is a foreign-flagged container ship," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said. "China opposes any malicious linkage or incitement." The Chinese Embassy in Washington also said in a statement to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that "China handles military exports prudently and responsibly, and strictly controls the export of dual-use items."
Meanwhile, observers note that Trump's planned visit to China next month has become uncertain. Iran has also taken a hardline stance against the United States. An Iranian government spokesperson wrote on X that "the Iranian people will not yield and will never surrender," while adding that "Iran will always serve as a pioneer of diplomacy, provided that dialogue is based on mutual respect and recognition of rights."
