Twenty-two crew members from the Iranian ship MV Touska, which was seized by the United States, have been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation. The development was confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, which stated that the move is part of ongoing coordination between the countries involved.

The crew had been on board the Iranian vessel after it was intercepted by US forces. According to officials, the ship was seized after it “failed to comply” with the US blockade on Iranian ports. The situation has since been handled through diplomatic channels, leading to the evacuation of the crew.

“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 ministry said in a statement on Monday. The statement highlights the role of the United States in facilitating the release of the crew members.

The evacuated individuals were flown to Pakistan on Sunday night. Authorities confirmed that they will be handed over to Iranian officials soon. “The individuals were flown to Pakistan on Sunday night and will be handed over to the Iranian authorities today,” the statement read. This transfer marks an important step in resolving the situation involving the seized vessel.

The Pakistani government also provided details about the ship’s status. “The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs,” Islamabad said. Officials added that the return process is being carried out with support from both Iranian and US authorities, ensuring smooth coordination between all sides.

In its statement, Pakistan welcomed the development and emphasised its role in promoting dialogue. “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 Foreign Ministry said. The message reflects Pakistan’s intent to act as a mediator and support peaceful outcomes in regional matters.

Reports from ABC News also confirmed the transfer. The outlet stated that the United States Central Command played a role in assisting the process. The involvement of CENTCOM highlights the operational role of US forces in managing the situation following the seizure.

“US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” the report quoted CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins as saying. His statement confirms that the transfer was successfully carried out with the help of US military personnel.

Further details revealed that some individuals had already been moved earlier. “Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week,” he said. These passengers were not part of the main crew transferred to Pakistan.

According to the report, Iranian state media identified the six individuals as family members of several crew members. This suggests that the vessel had both crew and accompanying family members on board at the time of the incident.

Captain Hawkins also provided an update on the ship’s custody. “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,” Hawkins said. This indicates that the vessel will soon be returned to its original owners after the completion of necessary procedures.

The ship had been boarded and seized by US forces on April 19. It was intercepted near Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel is a small container ship and is linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines group, which has been under US sanctions.

Overall, the evacuation of the crew and the steps towards returning the vessel point to ongoing diplomatic efforts between the countries involved. The situation, which began with a maritime interception, is now moving towards resolution through coordinated actions and official cooperation.