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President Donald Trump said the US 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 say where the ship was seized, whether it was Chinese flagged, or what its cargo was.“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 alright, that’s the way war goes, right?” Trump said in an interview on CNBC aired earlier today.Trump brought up the incident while discussing tensions involving Iran, saying his threat to bomb Iran’s bridges would affect the country’s military operations as it moves missiles. He also said Iran had likely done “a little bit of restocking” during a ceasefire that expires tomorrow.CNN reported last week that US intelligence indicated China was preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks. Trump has previously warned China against supplying weapons to Iran. “If China does that, China will have big problems, OK?” he said last week. China has denied supplying Iran with air defense weapons and said it would take “countermeasures” if Trump used the claim as a “pretext” for imposing an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods. Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing next month.In the same CNBC interview, Trump said he does not want to extend the ceasefire with Iran. “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” he said.He added that the US is in a strong negotiating position and expects a “great deal” with Iran. He also said, “I expect to be bombing ‘cause that would be a better attitude.”
