ISLAMABAD, May 4 - Pakistan's foreign ministry announced that 22 crew members who were aboard the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska have been evacuated by the United States to Pakistan and are scheduled to be transferred to Iranian authorities on Monday. Islamabad described the transfer as a "confidence-building measure."
The Touska, part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), was boarded and seized by U.S. forces off the coast of Iran's Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman last month. U.S. Central Command has maintained that the vessel broke a U.S. blockade and that its crew did not respond to repeated warnings over a six-hour period prior to the boarding and seizure.
Iran reacted strongly to the seizure at the time, condemning the action as unlawful and a violation of international law, and called for the immediate release of the ship, its sailors, and their families. The latest announcement from Pakistan provides a procedural path for the 22 crew members to be returned to Iranian custody.
In addition to the personnel handover, Pakistan's foreign ministry said the Touska will be moved into Pakistani territorial waters where necessary repairs can be carried out before the vessel is returned to its owners. The ministry framed these steps as part of an effort to defuse tensions arising from maritime confrontations in the region.
The developments come against a backdrop of wider hostilities in the region. The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began in February, was put on pause four weeks ago after the parties announced a fragile ceasefire. Despite that suspension, Washington and Tehran have continued to clash at sea, with both sides engaging in seizures of commercial vessels and other naval confrontations.
Pakistan has been engaged in diplomatic efforts to mediate between the parties. Peace talks took place last month in Pakistan as part of those efforts, but according to the foreign ministry the meetings did not result in a conclusive agreement. The transfer of crew and the planned relocation of the ship to Pakistani waters are described by Islamabad as steps intended to reduce immediate tensions while preserving options for further negotiation.
Contextual note: The account above reflects statements and facts as provided by Pakistan's foreign ministry and U.S. Central Command regarding the seizure of the Touska, the evacuation of its crew, and subsequent plans for transfer and repairs.