Seized Iranian Ship Puts China Trade Link Under Scrutiny

The MV Touska being intercepted by the USS Spruance. Centcom/Handout/Reuters

An Iranian-flagged cargo ship that was seized by the U.S. was part of a sanctioned fleet that regularly sailed to China. The MV Touska made two calls at the Chinese port of Zhuhai within six weeks before its detention in the Gulf of Oman, according to the Wall Street Journal.

U.S. forces said the vessel ignored repeated warnings before being disabled and boarded, while some speculate that ships in the same network have been used to move dual-use or missile-related materials. The ship’s cargo was not disclosed.

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