Fri Dec 12 23:03:09 UTC 2025: Okay, here are a summary and a news article rewrite of the provided text:
Summary:
In November, U.S. forces reportedly raided a cargo ship traveling from China to Iran in international waters, seizing materials deemed potentially useful for Iran’s weapons program. This marks the first such interception in years and is seen as another example of the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive maritime tactics, following the recent seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. China has condemned both actions, calling them illegal and opposing unilateral sanctions.
News Article:
US Intercepts Cargo Ship En Route to Iran in November, Report Says
Washington, D.C. – U.S. military forces intercepted a cargo ship sailing from China to Iran in November, seizing materials that officials claim could be used in Iran’s conventional weapons program, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The incident, which reportedly took place several hundred miles from Sri Lanka, marks the first time in years that the U.S. has intercepted cargo traveling between the two nations.
Unnamed officials told the WSJ that special operations forces boarded the ship and seized “dual-use” items that could have both military and civilian applications. The ship was allowed to continue its journey after the seizure.
The operation comes weeks before the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Both incidents highlight what some observers see as an increasingly assertive maritime strategy by the Trump administration.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has not yet confirmed the operation. Iran and China have not yet responded.
China’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the seizure of the Venezuelan oil tanker, calling it an instance of “unilateral illicit sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction” lacking international legal basis. The incident adds fuel to already strained relations between the U.S. and China, particularly regarding Iran, which is subject to heavy U.S. sanctions.
The White House has indicated that future seizures of vessels near Venezuela are possible.
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