In a confidence-building gesture amid ongoing maritime tensions, the Foreign Office on Monday confirmed that 22 Iranian crew members from the container vessel MV Touska, seized by United States forces last month, have been evacuated to Pakistan and will be repatriated to Iran.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the individuals were flown to Pakistan as part of a United States facilitation effort and would be handed over to Iranian authorities shortly. He added that Pakistan was also assisting in the logistical process of returning the vessel to its original owners after necessary repairs and formal procedures.
The development follows a statement by United States Central Command, which said its forces had transferred the 22 crew members to Pakistan for repatriation after the ship was intercepted in April while allegedly attempting to breach a United States naval blockade on Iranian shipping routes. Six additional individuals, identified by Iranian media as family members of the crew, had earlier been moved to another regional country.
The MV Touska, affiliated with the sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, was boarded near Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. United States officials maintained that repeated warnings were ignored over six hours before the seizure, while Iran condemned the action as unlawful and described it as “armed piracy”.
Pakistan described the latest development as a constructive step, with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar calling it an important measure to ease tensions. Islamabad reiterated its commitment to facilitating dialogue and mediation between Washington and Tehran.
The incident unfolds against the backdrop of heightened maritime insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping disruptions have escalated amid the broader US–Iran confrontation. Despite a fragile ceasefire declared earlier this year, both sides have continued to accuse each other of provocative naval actions, raising concerns over regional stability and global energy security.