Pakistan facilitated the transfer of 22 Iranian crew members from a US-seized vessel, describing the move as a "confidence-building measure" amid fragile diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran. The sailors, held aboard the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska, were flown to Islamabad on Sunday and were due to be handed over to Iranian authorities on Monday, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry.
The transfer follows a tense maritime standoff in the Gulf of Oman, where US forces intercepted the vessel on April 19. The US Central Command stated that the ship's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over six hours, violating a US blockade. The US Navy disabled the ship's engine by firing nine inert rounds from the USS Spruance before boarding and seizing it.
Iran condemned the seizure as "piracy" and a violation of an April ceasefire, urging the United Nations to intervene. The US, however, claimed the ship carried "a gift from China," an allegation Beijing rejected. Pakistan has positioned itself as a mediator in the Middle East, hosting talks aimed at reducing friction between the US and Iran.
The ship will be moved to Pakistani territorial waters for repairs before being returned to its owners, Pakistan's foreign ministry said. The transfer was coordinated with both Washington and Tehran, reflecting rare cooperation despite wider tensions over sanctions and shipping routes.