China’s foreign ministry has rejected an accusation by US President Donald Trump that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship intercepted by US forces was a “gift from China”, Reuters reports.

The US said it fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. Trump on Tuesday told CNBC the ship “had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don’t know.” China’s foreign ministry rejected the comments.

“China opposes any accusations and associations that lack a factual basis,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

“Normal international trade relations between countries should not be subject to interference and disruption,” he added.