15 crew members from seized Iranian ship MV Touska return home via Pakistan

Fifteen Iranian sailors from the MV Touska have crossed into Iran through the Rimdan border crossing from Pakistan's Balochistan province, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.

The US evacuated all 22 crew members of the seized Iranian container ship to Pakistan as a confidence-building measure, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed.

What happened to the Iranian ship MV Touska and its crew?

US forces seized the MV Touska after the vessel attempted to break the American naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz.

The ship had been travelling from China at the time. US Central Command transferred 22 crew members to Pakistan for return to Iran, while six other individuals from the ship had already been moved to a separate regional country for repatriation the previous week.

What is Pakistan's role in the MV Touska crew repatriation?

Pakistan's foreign ministry confirmed the crew arrived late Sunday. Islamabad described the arrangement as a constructive confidence-building step and part of its broader effort to facilitate dialogue and reduce regional friction.

Islamabad has consistently positioned itself as a neutral facilitator in efforts to ease maritime tensions. The foreign ministry reaffirmed Pakistan's willingness to continue supporting regional stability.

Why did Iran condemn the seizure of the MV Touska?

Tehran called the seizure a violation of international law and demanded the immediate release of the vessel and crew. Iranian military officials described the incident as armed piracy, saying the ship had been travelling from China at the time.

Iran has maintained that US restrictions on its shipping are illegitimate under international maritime law.

How many ships are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following US and Israeli strikes in late February, severely disrupting one of the world's most critical energy corridors.

An estimated 2,000 ships have been trapped since Iran closed the strait to vessels without its permission.

The United States has imposed its own restrictions on vessels departing from Iranian ports, and some ships attempting passage have reported coming under fire.

Against that backdrop, US President Donald Trump announced Washington would begin assisting stranded ships through a new initiative called Operation Freedom.

The effort aims to guide vessels safely through restricted waterways and ensure essential supplies reach affected ships and crews. Trump set the operation to begin this week but provided limited details on its execution.