Pakistan says facilitating return of Iranian crew from US-seized ship amid Gulf tensions

Pakistan says it is facilitating the repatriation of 22 Iranian crew members from the MV Touska, a container ship seized by US forces after it attempted to evade the American naval blockade of Iranian ports.

US Central Command confirmed the transfer to Pakistan on Sunday, with six additional individuals already sent to a separate regional country for repatriation the previous week.

Pakistan's foreign ministry described the development as a constructive "confidence-building step".

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

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

US Central Command transferred its 22 crew members to Pakistan for onward return to Iran. Six other individuals from the ship had already been moved to a regional country for repatriation.

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

Pakistan's foreign ministry said the crew arrived late on Sunday and are expected to be handed over to Iranian authorities.

The MV Touska itself will be brought into Pakistani territorial waters and returned to its owners after repairs, coordinated in cooperation with both Washington and Tehran. Islamabad described the arrangement as part of its broader effort to facilitate dialogue and reduce regional friction.

The repatriation reflects Pakistan's ongoing role as a diplomatic intermediary between the United States and Iran during the Gulf standoff.

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

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.

What is the broader context of the Gulf maritime standoff?

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.

The United States has imposed its own restrictions on vessels departing from Iranian ports, and some ships attempting passage through the strait have reported coming under fire. An estimated 2,000 ships have been trapped since Iran closed the strait to vessels without its permission.

Against that backdrop, US President Donald Trump announced that 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 the delivery of essential supplies to affected ships and crews. Trump set the operation to begin this week but provided limited details on how it would be executed.