New Delhi: The Iranian-flagged MV Touska, which was recently seized by American forces, was carrying chemical shipments for Tehran’s missile programme emanating from China, Republican leader Nikki Haley said Tuesday.
The ship, Reuters had reported, was carrying dual-use items, including metals, pipes, and electronic components, that could be used for both civilian and military purposes.
“The ship the U.S. seized in the Strait of Hormuz this weekend was headed from China to Iran and is linked to chemical shipments for missiles. It refused repeated orders to stop,” Haley said in a post on the social media platform X. “Another reminder that China is helping prop up Iran’s regime–a reality that can’t be ignored.”
The ship the U.S. seized in the Strait of Hormuz this weekend was headed from China to Iran and is linked to chemical shipments for missiles.
It refused repeated orders to stop.
Another reminder that China is helping prop up Iran’s regime—a reality that can’t be ignored.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 20, 2026
Later, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun underscored that the vessel seized by America is a foreign container ship. “As far as I know, the vessel seized by the U.S. is a foreign container ship. China rejects any false association and speculation,” Guo said in a press briefing.
Before the container vessel was seized Sunday while on its way to Bandar Abbas port, USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, warned it for over six hours for violating the American blockade. The destroyer fired multiple rounds at the Touska’s engine room, disabling its propulsion system. The US Marines had then taken over the ship.
Iran has accused the US of “armed piracy” following the capture of the MV Touska. Tehran said it is ready to confront US forces over the “blatant aggression”, but refrained from taking action due to the presence of crew members and families on board.
On the seizure of the ship, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed concern Monday over the “forcible interception of the vessel.”
“We are concerned over the U.S.’s forcible interception of the vessel and hope that relevant parties will honor the ceasefire agreement in a responsible manner, avoid aggravating disputes and escalating tensions, and provide necessary conditions for the restoration of normal passage through the Strait,” Guo stated.
Last week, US President Donald Trump had threatened a 50 percent tariff on China for ‘shipping’ shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. Later, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian had said that media reports accusing Beijing of providing military support to Iran were “purely fabricated.” He had further warned of China exercising countermeasures, if Washington imposed sanctions.
Operated by a subsidiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), MV Touska has long been suspected of carrying items related to military use.
“It was carrying something of value to Iran. It must have been worth the risk to try to run the blockade, but they chose poorly,” Charlie Brown, a former U.S. Navy officer and senior adviser for United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based advocacy group, told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, told CNN that the confiscation of cargo could be regarded as “spoils of war,” adding that the Iranians or members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps can be treated as prisoners of war
(Edited by Tony Rai)