Newsletters
The United States has transferred 22 crew members of the seized Iranian container vessel M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, U.S. Central Command confirmed, as Pakistan described the move as a "confidence-building measure" amid ongoing mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran.
"Today, U.S. forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation," CENTCOM Spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said, according to ABC News.
Hawkins added that six other passengers had already been transferred to an unspecified regional country for repatriation the previous week. Iranian state media reported the six were family members of some of the crew.
Hawkins confirmed that "custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership."
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the 22 crew members would be "handed over to the Iranian authorities" and that the Iranian ship "will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs."
"These returns are being coordinated in tandem with the support of both the Iranian and U.S. sides," the ministry said.
"Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security," the ministry noted.
U.S. naval forces seized the Touska on April 19 in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in breach of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Trump announced the seizure on April 19, saying the ship "tried to get past our naval blockade, and it did not go well for them." Iran condemned the seizure as "piracy."
An unnamed Iranian official cited by Tasnim News Agency had previously said six of the 28 Iranian crew members on board had been released and returned to Iran, with efforts underway to secure the release of the remainder.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
