Pakistan confirmed on Monday that 22 crew members from an Iranian container ship seized by US forces have been evacuated to Pakistani territory. Islamabad called the move a “confidence‑building measure” agreed with the United States, and said the crew will later be returned to Iran.
The vessel, the Iranian‑flagged Touska, was taken by US forces last month near Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. The ship belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), which is subject to US sanctions.
Tehran denounced the detention of Touska as unlawful and said the seizure violated international maritime law. US Central Command said the crew ignored repeated warnings over six hours and that the vessel was breaching a US blockade when it was intercepted.
Pakistan has said it will return the ship to Iran once necessary repairs are carried out. Islamabad has positioned itself as a mediator since the United States began strikes on Iran in late February, but efforts to negotiate a wider de‑escalation have so far yielded limited results.
The transfer of the crew to Pakistan is being presented by Islamabad as a step to reduce tensions while diplomatic channels continue to seek a resolution over the seized vessel and its cargo.