Summary The US Central Command had said the ship's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over six hours, and the vessel was in violationof a US blockade
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The US has evacuated 22 crew members held aboard an Iranian container vessel to Pakistan and will hand them over to Iranian authorities on Monday, Pakistan's foreign ministry said, calling the move a "confidence-building measure".
Iranian-flagged Touska, part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) that has been hit with sanctions by Washington, was boarded and seized by the US off the coast of Iran's Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman last month.
The US Central Command had said the ship's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over six hours, and the vessel was in violation of a US blockade.
Iran had condemned the incident as "unlawful and a violation" of international law, and demanded the immediate release of the vessel, its sailors, and their families.
The ship will also be moved to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its owners after necessary repairs, Pakistan's foreign ministry said on Monday.
Meanwhile, American outlet ABC News reported US Central Command Spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins as saying that “US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation.”
He said “six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week.”
According to the report, Iranian state media identified the six as family members of some of the crew.
The US-Israeli war on Iran, which began in February, was suspended four weeks ago after the countries declared a fragile ceasefire. However, Washington and Tehran have since engaged in naval confrontations and seizures of each other's commercial vessels.
Peace talks were held last month in Pakistan, which has been trying to negotiate an agreement, but did not culminate in a deal.
PAKISTAN FOREIGN OFFICE
The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed the 22 crew members on an Iranian ship that was seized by US forces had been evacuated to Pakistan.
PR No.1️⃣1️⃣4️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 4, 2026
Pakistan Facilitates Transfer of Iranian Crew Members
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He said on the social media platform X: “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.”
“The individuals, who were flown to Pakistan last night, will be handed over to the Iranian authorities today,” he said.
“The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs,” the Pakistan FO spokesperson Andrabi said, adding that these returns were being coordinated in tandem with the support of both sides.
“Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security,” he added.
The ship was boarded and seized by US forces on April 19.
