In a significant diplomatic development, 22 crew members from the seized Iranian container vessel, MV Touska, have been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation to their home country.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that the individuals were flown into the country on Sunday night as part of a “confidence-building measure” by the United States. The crew is scheduled to be handed over to Iranian authorities today.
According to the ministry’s statement, the vessel itself will be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters to be returned to its original owners following necessary repairs.
This process is being coordinated with the support of both Washington and Tehran. Islamabad expressed its commitment to facilitating dialogue and mediation efforts to ensure regional peace and security.
The MV Touska, a small container ship operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) – a group currently under US sanctions – was boarded and seized by US forces on 19 April.
The interception occurred off the coast of Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. US Central Command (CENTCOM) asserted that the vessel was in violation of a naval blockade and had failed to comply with repeated warnings issued over a six-hour period.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for CENTCOM, confirmed the completion of the transfer to Pakistan.
He further noted that six other passengers, identified by Iranian state media as family members of the crew, had already been moved to another regional country for repatriation last week.
This de-escalation effort occurs against the backdrop of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which commenced in February.
Although a fragile ceasefire was brokered by Pakistan four weeks ago, naval confrontations and vessel seizures have persisted.
While Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency acknowledged the Pakistani announcement, there has been no immediate official comment from the Iranian government.
Tehran had previously condemned the seizure as an unlawful violation of international law and demanded the release of the sailors and their families.
Tensions remain high in the region as the Iranian military warned on Monday of potential attacks on US forces if they attempt to approach the Strait of Hormuz.
This follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement of Project Freedom, a naval mission intended to “guide” stranded ships out of the vital waterway.
