Islamabad confirmed on Monday that 22 crew members from an Iranian container ship seized by the US will be evacuated to Pakistan.
The Foreign Ministry described the move as a “confidence‑building measure” agreed by both sides. The crew will subsequently be returned to Iran, the statement said.
The announcement concerns the Iranian‑flagged vessel Touska, seized last month by US forces near Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. The ship is part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), which is subject to US sanctions.
Tehran condemned the seizure as “unlawful” and a breach of international maritime law. US Central Command said the crew ignored six hours of repeated warnings that the vessel was violating a US blockade.
Pakistan said it will return the ship to Iran after necessary repairs are completed.
Islamabad has acted as a mediator since the US began launching strikes on Iran in late February, but efforts at peace talks have so far produced few results.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar