Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday stated that the 22 crew members of MV Touska, the Iranian ship captured by US forces near the Strait of Hormuz, have been transferred to Pakistan.
The ministry released a statement, “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.”
According to the statement, the crew were flown to Pakistan on Sunday night and would be handed over to the Iranian authorities on Monday. The ministry also added that the ship would be “backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs”.
Islamabad 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.”
Tasnim agency, associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published a report on the announcement while US news outlet ABC had reported on Sunday that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) was involved in the transfer.
CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins was quoted in the report saying, “US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation.”
“Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week,” he added.
The six passengers were identified as family members of the crew by Iranian state media.
Hawkins said, “Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the US naval blockade against Iran last month.”
Despite a delicate ceasefire mediated by Pakistan, the United States and Iran have continued aggressive naval operations near the Strait, including seizures of commercial vessels.
Touska, which was part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) group hit with US sanctions, was seized by US forces on April 19. CENTCOM claimed the ship did not comply to repeated warnings for over six hours and was in violation of the US blockade. Iran condemned the incident as “unlawful and a violation” of international law, demanding the immediate release of the ship and its crew.
