Pakistan has received 22 crew members of a seized Iranian container ship from the United States as part of a confidence-building measure, the Foreign Office said on Monday, adding that the crew will be handed over to Iran.
The United States has transferred 22 crew members of the seized Iranian container ship MV Touska to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran.
According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the individuals arrived in Pakistan last night and will be handed over to Iranian authorities today. It described the move as a positive confidence-building measure at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The Foreign Office said the Iranian ship will also be brought back to Pakistani territorial waters after necessary repairs. The vessel will then be handed over to its original owners.
The Foreign Office said the return of the crew and ship was made possible through the cooperation of both the United States and Iran.
CENTCOM confirms crew handover
US media, citing United States Central Command, reported that Washington had decided to return the seized Iranian container ship to Iran.
ABC News quoted CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins as saying that US forces had completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation. Hawkins also said six other passengers had already been transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week.
Iranian state media reported that those six individuals were family members of some of the crew. Tehran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency had earlier reported that the six had arrived in Iran.
US forces seized the Touska on April 19 in the Gulf of Oman.
US President Donald Trump claimed the Iranian vessel was struck and seized by the US military after it refused to follow Washington’s orders to withdraw from its planned passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States, which has been imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports since last month, boarded the ship and seized it after it reportedly refused to comply with blockade directions.
The seizure sharply increased tensions between Washington and Tehran, already locked in conflict since February, when US and Israeli forces launched surprise attacks against Iran.
Pakistan welcomes confidence-building measure
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the evacuation of the crew to Pakistan was carried out as a confidence-building step by the United States.
“As a confidence-building measure by the United States of America, twenty-two crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship, ‘MV Touska’, have been evacuated to Pakistan,” Andrabi said.
“The individuals, who were flown to Pakistan last night, will be handed over to the Iranian authorities today,” he added.
He said the MV Touska will also be “backloaded” to Pakistani territorial waters for return after necessary repairs.
“These returns are being coordinated in tandem with the support of both the Iranian and US sides,” the spokesperson said.
Pakistan, Iran discuss regional peace efforts
The development came after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday night.
According to a separate statement issued by the Foreign Office, the two leaders discussed peace efforts and regional developments. Araghchi appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role and sincere mediation efforts.
The statement said Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued commitment to promoting constructive engagement.
He also stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward peaceful resolution of issues and lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.
