China concerned over US detention of Iranian-flagged vessel
Photo: The container ship TOUSKA (Getty Images)
China has expressed concern over the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, according to Reuters and The Washington Post.
"The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is sensitive and complicated," says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. Parties involved should avoid further escalation and "create the necessary conditions for normal transit through the strait to resume," he adds.
Today, April 20, Beijing also calls on the parties to the conflict to "continue to maintain the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations."
"Now that a window for peace has opened, favourable conditions should be created to bring the war to an end as soon as possible," Guo emphasizes.
The Washington Post reports that, according to data from the global analytics firm Kpler, the vessel TOUSKA, which can carry up to 4,800 20-foot containers, was returning from a Chinese port where chemicals are stored, fully loaded.
The port of Gaolan is located in Zhuhai on China’s southeastern coast. Experts tell the agency that this is a well-known port for loading chemicals, including sodium perchlorate, a key precursor to solid rocket fuel, which Iran needs for its missile program.
At the same time, it is not yet known exactly what materials were on board the vessel.
Background
Today, US President Donald Trump stated that American forces attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged vessel as it attempted to break through the US blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
According to him, the US guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the vessel in the Gulf of Oman and warned the Iranian crew to stop.
However, this proved ineffective, so the USS Spruance disabled the TOUSKA’s propulsion system by firing several rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 gun into the vessel’s engine room.
On April 17, Iran announced the end of its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as a ceasefire had also begun between Israel and Lebanon. Trump welcomed this decision, but added that Washington would continue the naval blockade of Iran until the parties finally reached an agreement.
Against this backdrop, new problems arose regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and as early as the following day, April 18, there were reports that Iran was closing it again. Additionally, the country attacked several merchant ships attempting to pass through the strategic waterway.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that the US is preparing to seize oil tankers and merchant ships linked to Iran in the coming days. Moreover, the seizures will take place even outside the Strait of Hormuz, in order to pressure Iran and force it to reach an agreement.
